Raising money for the publication of chassidic texts; the positive value of the publication of such texts

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No. 246

This letter was addressed to R. Chanoch Hendel Havlin, one of the members of the Lubavitch community in Jerusalem.

B"H, 6 Elul, 5706

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your notification of the bar mitzvah of your son, Eliezer: I extend my blessings that your raise him (-- see Kiddushin 30a [which interprets the phrase] "while your hand guides your son" as applying until the age of 22 according to one view, or 24 according to another; the approach of the Alter Rebbe in Hilchos Talmud Torah, ch. 1, sec. 6, seemingly requires clarification for he appears to accept the stringencies implied by both positions; this is not the place for discussion of that subject --) to Torah [study], marriage, and good deeds amidst prosperity in both spiritual matters.

There are opinions which explain that the concept that a youth becomes obligated in the observance of mitzvos at age 13 is derived from the conduct of Shimon and Levi[81] (Rashi, Nazir 29b; see also the mishnah at the conclusion of ch. 5 of Avos).

It is possible to explain [that the following allusions can be drawn]. At the outset, the observance of mitzvos at one's bar mitzvah:

1. involves a war with one's body and animal soul, for they have a prior claim;[82]

2. the intent is to draw down [G-d's] infinite light into [the body and the animal soul] and into the material substance with which the mitzvah is performed;

3. it is possible to be victorious in this war, because the Holy One, blessed be He, grants assistance; "Were the Holy One, blessed be He, not to grant assistance, [he could not overcome his evil inclination]."[83]

These [concepts are alluded to by the names]:

Shimon -- his Divine service is on the level of hearing,[84] not sight[85] (see Likkutei Torah, the beginning of Parshas Vaes'chanan; the conclusion of Kuntreis HaAvodah, et al).

Levi -- the intent is that he will accompany[86] G-d's infinite light to this earthly plane (see Torah Or, the beginning of Parshas Vayechi).

Eliezer[87] -- he will be victorious even though the yetzer [hara] struggles powerfully, for "his G-d will assist Him," enabling him to "grow continually greater until he is exceedingly great."[88]

---

In response to your letter:

1. With thanks from the depths of my heart for your endeavors to fulfill my requests with regard to the yahrzeit of my revered father and teacher;

2. The collection of sichos from the Rebbe Rashab was printed in mimeograph and in a limited quantity. Therefore it is not governed by the ordinary financial guidelines of our publishing house. Its price is [$]10 and [$]8 for yeshivah students.

3. [You wrote that] you saw [books from] our publishing house [in Eretz Yisrael]. These were probably from a limited number of texts that were purchased here for cash and sent to [Eretz Yisrael] on the responsibility [of the purchaser]. In such a situation, it is understandable that better conditions are given. [The right to] sell the Responsa of the Tzemach Tzedek for one year was sold to a bookseller here on the condition that he send them to Eretz Yisrael as well.

4. I was directed to clarify the location of the contract and the deed to the house and estate in Chevron owned by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita. (What has been received here is merely the deed of purchase in the name of the Rebbe Rashab.) Please make a copy of them, keep the copy, and send the originals to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita. The more expediently the matter is attended to the better. From the outset, I offer my thanks.

With the blessing "Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption," [and with blessings for] a kesivah vachasimah tovah in spiritual and material matters,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

81. (Back to text) [As stated in Bereishis, the conclusion of ch. 34, at the age of 13, Shimon and Levi slew the inhabitants of Shechem for their failure to judge Shechem as required after the rape of Dinah.]

82. (Back to text) [The G-dly soul does not fully enter the body until the age of bar mitzvah. In the preceding years, the material tendencies of the body and the animal soul will have been strengthened.]

83. (Back to text) [Kiddushin 30b.]

84. (Back to text) [The first three letters of the name Shimon form the root shema meaning "hear."]

85. (Back to text) [I.e., G-dliness is distant from him -- it can only be heard, but not seen -- because his material tendencies have a prior hold upon his character.]

86. (Back to text) [The name Levi shares the letters of the word levayah, meaning "accompaniment."]

87. (Back to text) [The Hebrew for the name Eliezer can be divided as eli ezer meaning "My G-d helps."]

88. (Back to text) [Cf. Bereishis 26:13.]

Raising money for the publication of chassidic texts; the positive value of the publication of such texts

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