The significance of the holiday of Shavuos and the Giving of the Torah

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The campaign to study Mishnayos by heart; the spiritual significance of melikah

No. 76

This letter was addressed to Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson, a leading Torah scholar in London, England.

B"H, Tuesday, 5 Sivan, 5703

Greetings and blessings,

Based on what I have heard about you and your character, I am taking the initiative of writing to you without any introductions. Certainly, you have a detailed knowledge of the activities of Machne Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch which were founded by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita. Some of the activities carried out by these organizations and their branches are elaborated upon in HaKeriah VehaKedushah, and the sichos of the Rebbe shlita, and in the text HaYom Yom.

It is obvious that the intent of the founder of these institutions is that Machne Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch are not to remain satisfied by carrying out activities in the United States and Canada alone. Instead, [his intent is] that appropriate people for these programs should be found in different places, and that these people should accept upon themselves this work in the place where they live, [carrying out these efforts] themselves and inspiring others whom they know to help them.

We have written to you previously about becoming involved in these efforts, and you have yet to respond. I approach you again because now is an appropriate time, since:

1. The conclusion of the study of the entire Mishnah by heart has been set for Sunday, the seventeenth of Sivan. At that time, [the Mishnah will also be divided] by lot for the coming year, so that the study is completed by Isru Chag Shavuos, 5704.

   The intent of the Society for the Study of Mishnayos by Heart is explained thoroughly in the second collection of letters from my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, which I am certain has already reached you. Because of the geographic distance, it is impossible to arouse every individual [to participate] from here. Therefore we are suggesting that you take on the responsibility of gathering members for this society and divide the six orders of the Mishnah among them [for the purpose of studying] Mishnayos by heart. [This may be done either] together with our friends, the chassidim living in Manchester who did this last year, or by making a separate society. The conclusion of the study should be set for Isru Chag HaShavuos. We would appreciate if you would let us know about your positive activities.

2. Over time, we have published several publications here. In this context as well, the intent is that they spread throughout the widest possible audiences. As is well known with regard to the expression[1] "when your wellsprings spread outward," that "outward," refers to "the furthest peripheries" (see Sichos Simchas Torah, 5690, sec. 32).[2]

We suggest that you accept the responsibility of finding the proper person to be involved in publicizing and selling these texts. (That person should not be one concerning whom it could be said:[3] "A doctor who heals without charge is not worth anything.") In this way, [these publications] will reach [even] people who are far-removed.

So that the matter will not be postponed, we are sending to your address ten of each of our publications. Could you be gracious and notify us that you received them? Thanking you in advance if you could answer as soon as possible with regard to the above.

Certainly, you remember the letter you wrote me concerning the tzimtzum.[4] If a person - no matter who he is - will meditate on the fact that with him, at that moment in the place [he is located] is found his Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, the AriZal, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai at the Idra,[5] Rabbi Akiva when expounding upon Maaseh Merkavah,[6] the High Priest in the Holy of Holies, and even Moshe our teacher at the moment of the giving of the Torah, he would have no thoughts of his personal self and his own importance at all.

No. the teachings of Chassidus have determined that the tzimtzum has affected only G-d's light, but not, heaven forbid, [He Himself,] the Source of the light. The Source of the light is found here, at this time, just as it is found in the Holy of Holies in the world of Asiyah, at the moment of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, in the world of Atzilus, and in the worlds of Ein Sof as they existed before the first tzimtzum when Or Ein Sof permeated all existence!

With blessings that you receive the Torah with inner feeling; "Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,"

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) [Quoted from a letter from the Baal Shem Tov to his brother-in-law Gershon Kitover, printed in the beginning of Kesser Shem Tov, Kehot edition.]

2. (Back to text) [Likkutei Dibburim, Vol. II, p. 311a; Sefer HaSichos 5690, p. 84ff.]

3. (Back to text) [Cf. Bava Kamma 85a.]

4. (Back to text) [The Rebbe's response is printed as Letter No. 11, published in this text.]

5. (Back to text) [The discourse in the Zohar where the deepest mystical concepts are explained.]

6. (Back to text) [Lit., "matters concerning [G-d's] chariot," the Talmudic term for mystic knowledge of the angels and the spiritual realms.]

The significance of the holiday of Shavuos and the Giving of the Torah

Table of contents

Search this book:

The campaign to study Mishnayos by heart; the spiritual significance of melikah