A scholarly explanation of the chassidic story regarding the interpretation of the mishnah: "Akavya ben Mahalalel says:.." as: "The heel from a person who prays and praises G-d says..."

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The responsiveness of American Jews to the Kehot publications; that "America is not different"

No. 155

This letter was addressed to Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Stein, one of the students of the Lubavitcher Yeshivah.

B"H, Wednesday, 9 Sivan, 5704, Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

In response to the invitation to your wedding, may it take place in a good and auspicious hour, I am sending my blessings of Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov. May you build a house in Israel on the foundations and the inner dimensions of the Torah and its mitzvos.

The universal marriage, [the bond] between the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Jewish people is the holiday of Shavuos. As our Sages comment in the Mechilta, Parshas Yisro (quoted by Rashi in his commentary to the Torah, the beginning of Parshas Berachah), G-d came out to greet the people as a groom goes out [to greet his bride].

We rule that the Torah was given on 6 Sivan, as the Alter Rebbe writes in his Shulchan Aruch (494:1). (This is reflected by our custom with regard to the reading of the Torah, as indicated by Rashi's statements in Megillah 31a, entry viha'idna.) Thus the seven days of the wedding celebrations extend until - and including - the twelfth of Sivan. This can be related to the concept that compensation for the Shavuos offerings may be brought until - and including - that date (Chagigah 17a). [A connection can be drawn] to our Sages' statement (Yoma 4b) that according to the opinion that the Torah was given on 6 Sivan, the days until and including 12 Sivan were distinct - [on them Moshe was] set aside [in preparation][72] - from the days that followed.[73]

Thus everyone agrees that these days are included in the seven days of the wedding celebrations of the Groom, the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

Our Sages' state (Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer, the conclusion of ch. 16): "Just as a king's face shines like the orb of the sun;" {- as it is written:[74] "There is life in the light of the king's countenance" (Rav David Luria) -}; "so, too, the face of a groom shines like the orb of the sun." Similarly, may it be His will that G-d shine His countenance upon you, [enabling] all the blessing granted to you by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, to be fulfilled.

With blessings of mazal tov; "Immediately to teshuvah; immediately to Redemption,"

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

   

Notes:

72. (Back to text) [For ascending to Mt. Sinai.]

73. (Back to text) [During which he received Divine revelation.]

74. (Back to text) Mishlei 16:15.

A scholarly explanation of the chassidic story regarding the interpretation of the mishnah: "Akavya ben Mahalalel says:.." as: "The heel from a person who prays and praises G-d says..."

Table of contents

Search this book:

The responsiveness of American Jews to the Kehot publications; that "America is not different"