Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9550

By the grace of Hashem,

Elul* 5728,
Brooklyn, New York,

I greet you and bless you,

I have duly received your letter[1]. We are in propitious days[2] and in the month of Elul[3], whose name is formed by the initial letters of the words of the verse: "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine"[4] — a month of mercy[5] and of Teshuvah*[6]. In these days, as the Admor HaZaken* emphasizes[7], Hashem appears as a King welcomed in the field. Henceforth, whoever wishes it "is permitted"[8] and, according to the clarification added by my father-in-law, the Rebbe*[9], "has the right" to go to meet Him. "And He receives each one with goodwill[10], shows a smiling face to all."

May it therefore be the Will of the King, Supreme King, the Holy One blessed be He, while He is still in the field[11], to positively fulfill all the wishes[12] and all the requests of whoever goes to meet Him within all of Israel. And, as has been said, may He fulfill them with goodwill.

May He inscribe and seal[13] each man and woman for a good and sweet year, in a visible and tangible good. With my blessing to be inscribed and sealed for a good year,

M. Schneerson,

* * *

Regarding[14] the four[15] verses cited by the first chapter of Iggeret HaTeshuvah*, all this was explained here at the Chasidic* gathering[16]. You have surely received the record of it.

Notes

(1) This letter was addressed to several people. See the Likkutei Sichot, vol. 9, p. 313.
(2) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "See Rashi's commentary on the verses Shemot 33, 11, Devarim 19, 18 and 10, 10, as well as the Tur, Orach Chaim, chapter 581."
(3) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "Consult the Midrash Tanchuma and the Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah at the end of the portion Chukat, indicating that the war against Sichon was waged in Elul. See also tractate Bava Batra 78b. But the war against Sichon did not begin before the 1st day of Elul."
(4) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "Abudarham (in the order of the Rosh Hashana prayer and its commentary, paragraph 1). Peri Etz Chaim, gate 24, chapter 1. Sha'ar HaPesukim, Shir Hashirim, p. 6c. Beit Chadash, Orach Chaim, chapter 581."
(5) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "See also the Chasidic discourse entitled: 'I am my Beloved's,' from 5700 (in the Sefer HaMaamarim 5700, from p. 150)."
(6) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "Tur, same reference. The Beit Chadash, also same reference, specifies that the numerical value of the final letters of the verse forming the name of Elul is forty, and this number corresponds to the forty days separating Rosh Chodesh Elul from Yom Kippur. During this period, indeed, Teshuvah is better accepted. It is then that one draws one's heart close to one's Beloved, through Teshuvah. In this way, the Beloved, with closeness, accepts this Teshuvah with love." The term love is used here in direct relation to the expression 'Beloved.' Nevertheless, within these forty days, the ten days of Teshuvah occupy a particular place. During this period, indeed, according to the expression of the Rambam, in his laws of Teshuvah, chapter 2, paragraph 6: 'Teshuvah is more beautiful and it is accepted immediately.' Consult also the Likkutei Torah of the Ari Zal*, in the portion Teitzei, regarding the verse Teitzei 21, 13: 'She shall weep for a month,' which alludes to Elul. And, as our Sages emphasize in tractate Yevamot 48b, this indeed refers to thirty days, so that this propitious period is introduced from the very first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul. Nevertheless, one may still question what the Likkutei Torah specifies regarding this verse, but this will not be done here." At various references, the Rebbe refers to the Rechimot* of the Tzemach Tzedek* on Eichah*, in the Or HaTorah Na'ch, p. 1050, which says: "Consult, in the Likkutei Torah, the end of the Chasidic discourse entitled Ki Teitzei, second commentary, regarding the verse: 'she shall weep for her father and mother for a month,' which alludes to the month of Elul." The Rebbe notes in this regard: "Consult the Likkutei Torah, pp. 36c and 37d, but one must still reflect somewhat."
(7) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "In the Likkutei Torah, in the portion Re'eh, p. 32."
(8) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "In this regard, see the Sifri on the verse Re'eh 12, 17, cited by Rashi's commentary, which states its simple meaning: 'You will not be able: you can, but you do not have the right.'" See, in this regard, the Likkutei Sichot, vol. 29, from p. 79.
(9) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "At the end of the Chasidic discourse entitled: 'To You my heart says,' from 5710," in the Sefer HaMaamarim 5700, p. 167, and 5710, p. 285.
(10) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "See the Rambam's commentary on the Mishna, tractate Avot, chapter 1, Mishna 15. Consult also this same commentary, chapter 3, Mishna 12: 'and with joy, which is even greater.' One may consider that this is so at Sukkot*, the time of our joy, following Elul and the ten days of Teshuvah — that is, the days of Shammai*, literally 'of the one who establishes the assessment,' as it is said: 'He assesses his ways,' as the Likkutei Torah, Shir Hashirim, p. 48c explains, but this point will not be developed here."
(11) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "Consult the Maharil*, cited by the Mateh Ephraim*, chapter 581, paragraph 9, which says that from Rosh Chodesh Elul, one must wish the person to whom one is writing a letter to be inscribed and sealed for a good year."
(12) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "See, in this regard, the Or HaTorah of the Tzemach Tzedek, in the portion Re'eh, in the notes on the Likkutei Torah previously cited, p. 808. Indeed, this text says: 'One may consider that in Elul, these thirteen Attributes of Divine mercy shine, including in the outer rose.'"
(13) The Rebbe notes, at the bottom of the page: "Consult the end of the Bad Kodesh, citing the verse: 'My judgment will be pronounced before You' and specifically before You. See the Yerushalmi*, tractate Sanhedrin, chapter 2, paragraph 3, as well as the verse Isaiah 33, 22. Consult the Midrash Shemot Rabbah, chapter 19, paragraph 5, which is commented upon by the Chasidic discourse entitled: 'And thus,' by the Tzemach Tzedek (in the Or HaTorah, portion Bo, from p. 291). The Midrash emphasizes: 'Previously, the judgment was pronounced by Me and My tribunal. In the future world, however, I will pronounce it alone, as it is said: The Eternal walks before you and the Hashem of Israel will gather you.' Consult, in this regard, the Megaleh Amukot, in the portion Ekev, which establishes a connection with the month of Elul." According to the Vilna edition, this passage from Midrash Shemot Rabbah is in paragraph 6. In the edition with extensions, it is in paragraph 7.
(14) This paragraph was added on the copy of this letter addressed to Rabbi Raphael Nachman HaCohen Kahn, which was not sent to him until after Shabbat Teshuvah*. See, in his regard, letter no. 7878.
(15) The Rebbe underlines the word: "four," as well as, in note 6, "with love" and in note 13, "before You."
(16) This was the Chasidic gathering of Shabbat Parshat Vayeilech, Shabbat Teshuvah 5729. See the Likkutei Biurim on the Tanya, vol. 2, from p. 62, and the Shiurim BeSefer HaTanya, Iggeret HaTeshuvah, chapter 1.

ט'תקנ

ב"ה,  אלול, ה'תשכ"ח

ברוקלין, נ.י.

שלום וברכה!

מאשר הנני קבלת מכתבו . . .

ובעמדנו בימי רצון , ובחדש אלול – ר"ת : אני לדודי ודודי לי – חדש הרחמים והתשובה ,

אשר בימים אלה, כדברי אדמו"ר הזקן , השי"ת הוא ע"ד מלך שמקבלין "פניו בשדה, ואז רשאין

– ומוסיף ומבאר כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר: ויכולים –

כל מי שרוצה – לצאת להקביל פניו והוא מקבל את כולם בסבר פנים יפות ומראה פנים שוחקות לכולם",

יהי רצון אשר ימלא המלך, ממה"מ הקב"ה – עוד בהיותו בשדה – כל בקשות ומשאלות לבבו לטובה של כל המקבלים פניו, בתוככי כלל ישראל, ימלא אותם (כנ"ל) בסבר פנים יפות,

ויכתוב ויחתום את כל אחד ואחת לשנה טובה ומתוקה בטוב הנראה והנגלה.

בברכת כוח"ט ,

מ. שניאורסאהן

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ע"ד ד' הכתובים שהובאו באגה"ת פ"א – נת' בהתועדות כאן ובטח כבר הגיעה הר"ד.