A Rabbi's privilege and responsibility

Table of contents

Search this book:

An explanation of the statement in Tanya: "It is impossible for the wicked to begin to serve G-d unless they first repent"

No. 53

This letter was addressed to Rabbi N.M., an active communal Rabbi.

B"H, Friday, 14 Adar I, 5703

Greetings and blessings,

We received your letter with a list of the members for the Society for [Studying] Mishnayos by Heart and the Society for [the Recitation of] Tehillim. We thank you for your participation in our work. We hope that in the future you will add vigor in the assistance you render us in bringing merit to the many.

Just recently, there was [a division of] the Mishnayos by lottery.[1] We are sending you a membership card and will send membership cards to the others who registered according to their addresses. Similarly, we have forwarded the names of those mentioned on your list to the Society for [the Recitation of] Tehillim in Jerusalem.

We have given the directive to send the [publication] Shmusen[2] to the three people whose addresses you furnished us. Certainly they will receive them at the proper time. Enclosed is the bill.

We will be happy to hear from you with regard to the positive efforts you have undertaken on behalf of Machne Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch from the time you wrote your last letter until the present time.

As is well known with regard to the laws that relate to the opening verse of this week's Torah reading: "And you shall command ... to raise up a continuous light," the priest must kindle the lamps until the flame rises up on its own accord. To focus on the parallel in our Divine service at the present time: Our Sages (Pesikta, quoted in Yalkut Shimoni, commenting on Zechariah, ch. 4) state: "'The Menorah made entirely of gold,' this is Israel, of which it is said:[3] 'You are entirely attractive, my beloved.'" The priest - this refers to one to whom G-d has been gracious and whom He chose to serve before Him in holiness (see Rambam, the conclusion of Hilchos Shemitah VeYoveil) - has the responsibility of kindling the lamps, lighting the "lamp of G-d, the soul of man"[4] of the people he knows and with whom he is familiar. And he must continue to kindle that light until it becomes a flame of G-d, the light of the Torah and its mitzvos, until it ascends on its own accord, i.e., there is no necessity for another person to warn them and arouse them. [The lamps must burn] "until the morning" - until the World to Come, the world which is entirely morning (Talmud Yerushalmi, Chagigah 2:1),

With the blessing "Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,"

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) See the Introduction to Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. VI, pp. 9-10.

2. (Back to text) [The Yiddish publication which paralleled the English Talks and Tales.]

3. (Back to text) [Shir HaShirim 4:7.]

4. (Back to text) [Mishlei 20:27.]

A Rabbi's privilege and responsibility

Table of contents

Search this book:

An explanation of the statement in Tanya: "It is impossible for the wicked to begin to serve G-d unless they first repent"