Details concerning the circulation of Kehot texts; an explanation of the mishnah recited in connection with the passing of a loved one: "[When] a needle is placed on the steps [leading to a mikveh] in a cave…" from a mystic perspective

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The positive connotations of haste, particularly in the present era

No. 180

This letter was addressed to the directorate of Collel Chabad and in particular, to R. Shlomo Yehudah Leib Aliazarof, the head of the Collel.

B"H, 26 Teves, 5705, Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

Your letter of 3 Kislev reached me. Thank G-d, the health of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, is continually improving. The doctors have allowed him to return to his holy work for several hours a day. Their prohibition against meeting people at yechidus, however, remains. In general, care is taken to keep distant all matters that might cause discomfort, emotional excitement, or the like. We are hoping that his condition will improve from day to day.

Here, we are continuing to recite several chapters of Tehillim every day after [the morning] prayers (in addition to the daily portion of Tehillim as divided according to the days of the month). Certainly, you are also continuing similar activities. May G-d send my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, a complete recovery in the very near future as is the wish and prayer of all the members of the chassidic brotherhood. Amen; so may it be His will.

Attention can be called to our Sages' statement (Megillah 17b, explained in the Tzemach Tzedek's commentary to Tehillim 6:1) that [requests for] healing are mentioned in the eighth blessing [of the Shemoneh Esreh], the blessing Rifaeinu, where we ask: "Grant complete cure and healing...." An association can be made with the eighth candle (in the chain of the leaders of the chassidic movement: the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezeritch,...),[167] Yosef ([who is associated with] the eighth king, Hadar,[168] as explained in the Hosafos to Torah Or, Parshas Vayechi, [and identified with] the level of tzaddik, the foundation of the world, and circumcision which is carried out on the eighth day. [Similarly,] Shemini Atzeres[169] is connected to Yosef - Zohar, Vol. I, p. 208b; Likkutei Torah from the Rebbe Maharash, p. 71d),[170] Yitzchak (which is numerically equivalent to eight times the numerical equivalent of G-d's name Y-H-V-H, as stated by the Tzemach Tzedek, Or HaTorah, Bereishis, p. 304a).

[This relates to the] all-encompassing healing that will come in the Ultimate Future (see the maamar entitled Samchuni in the Tzemach Tzedek's Derech Emunah), in the era of Mashiach; may he come speedily in our days. Then there will be a harp of eight strands and then we will tell Yitzchak: "For you are our ancestor."[171] See (Sanhedrin 94a [which states]): "The Holy One, blessed be He, sought to make Chizkiyahu Mashiach." [The passage continues, stating that Mashiach will not come] "until [the Jewish people] are repeatedly humiliated" (which has been fulfilled in the present era. [And it speaks of] Chizkiyahu as having eight names.

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

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Executive Director

   

Notes:

167. (Back to text) [The Previous Rebbe, the eighth leader, is identified as the eighth candle. The Rebbe continues, dwelling on the connection to the Previous Rebbe's names, Yosef and Yitzchak.]

168. (Back to text) [See Bereishis 36:39.]

169. (Back to text) [The eighth day of the Sukkos holiday.]

170. (Back to text) [Reprinted in Or HaTorah, Bereishis, Vol. VI, p. 1065a.]

171. (Back to text) Shabbos 89b.

Details concerning the circulation of Kehot texts; an explanation of the mishnah recited in connection with the passing of a loved one: "[When] a needle is placed on the steps [leading to a mikveh] in a cave…" from a mystic perspective

Table of contents

Search this book:

The positive connotations of haste, particularly in the present era