4812 —הכוונה בתפלה כדיני לשמה – בתחלת הענין, וטהרת הטבילה ביציאה מן המקוה

B"H, 5 Marcheshvan, 5717

Brooklyn.

The distinguished Chassid, who fears G‑d, distinguished and honored, etc., Reb Refael, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter — which bears no date of writing —

a) Regarding what was discussed about intention in prayer: there are two kinds — the intention required throughout the prayer, and that which is essential only in the first verse of the Shema and the first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei — and you discuss, regarding the first kind, whether it is essential for the whole time the prayer is said.

This is like the laws of lishmah in a number of places, where [the intention] must be at the start of the matter, and presumably what follows is drawn after the start^[1]. See also what the Alter Rebbe writes in Tanya, end of chapter 41 (p. 58b). And for the general matter, note what is written in Kuntres Acharon there (p. 154b).

b) Regarding what you write in connection with explaining the Kesef Mishneh's words on the Rambam's language at the end of chapter 6 of Hilchos Avos HaTumos, that the purification of immersion takes effect specifically on leaving the mikveh — thank you for copying the words of the Gaon of Rogatchov on this from the Tosefta. — I too have reason to note that the reasoning itself, that the purification is specifically on his leaving the mikveh, is a great novelty and also puzzling, and were it not that the Kesef Mishneh said it, one could object to it from several sides — as is also discussed at length in the book Shem MiShimon, first edition, by Rabbi S. Pollak (Satmar 5692), Yoreh De'ah section, siman 18.

I was pleased to read in your letter that you are drawn to Chabad. This strengthens my hope that you have fixed times for studying the teachings of Chabad, or at least that you will set times for this from now on. Surely your friends and acquaintances among Anash in Jerusalem, the holy city, will help you in this if you need any help.

With blessing.

Publisher's notes

Printed in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 22, p. 355.

Reb Refael (מו"ה רפאל): Kohen, Jerusalem.

Notes

[1] The laws of lishmah (דיני לשמה): as in the laws of writing Torah scrolls, tefillin and mezuzos "for their sake," where the intention is required at the start of the act, and presumably what follows continues from that start.

Summary

This letter explains that intention required throughout prayer is like the laws of lishmah: it is needed at the start, and what follows is presumed to continue it (Tanya ch. 41). It finds the Kesef Mishneh's view, that immersion purifies only on leaving the mikveh, a great novelty and puzzling, and hopes he sets times to study Chabad Chassidus.