5872 —הוספה בהפצת המעינות במדה הכי גדולה, וההכנה לי"ט כסלו ראש השנה לחסידות

B"H, 26 Marcheshvan, 5718

Brooklyn.

The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and esteemed, whose work is the work of Heaven, our teacher Rabbi Shmuel Elazar, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your two letters, in which you write the main points of your activities in the most exalted matter of הפצת המעינות חוצה "spreading the wellsprings outward" (Mishlei 5:16; the letter of the Baal Shem Tov, Keser Shem Tov, at the beginning), in addition to your activities in the preparatory division of Yeshivas Toras Emes.

May it be G‑d's will that you add still more in holiness in all of this, as in the well-known expression מעלין בקדש "one ascends in holiness" (Berachos 28a). And since here too there are differences of degree, let it be in the very greatest measure. As is known from the teachings of our Sages, of blessed memory: not only action, but that the action be as it ought to be done; and the demand itself proves that the ability to fulfill it has been given, and the matter depends only on the will.

We are now approaching the month of Kislev, the month of redemption, and the redemption of all those who have merited to taste of the teachings of Chassidus and its matters. As is known, the saying of our holy Rebbeim is that Yud-Tes Kislev is the Rosh Hashanah for the study of Chassidus and the ways of Chassidus (Hayom Yom, 19 Kislev). And as for "Rosh" (head): the Alter Rebbe and his son, the Mitteler Rebbe, explained the precise wording, "Rosh" and not "beginning": just as the head includes the vitality of all the limbs of the body, so Rosh Hashanah includes within it all the days of the year (Likkutei Torah, Tavo, "Hayom Hazeh"; Ateres Rosh, Shaar Rosh Hashanah, at the beginning). The days before it are days of preparation, on which the flow of blessing depends. And as our Sages, of blessed memory, made known: even an opening the size of the eye of a needle opens the entrance of the Ulam (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2; Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim, "Ani Yesheinah"), of the Ulam specifically, for besides its size it is always open, since it has no doors to close it (Mishnah Middos 2:3).

With blessing for good news in all of the above,

M. Schneerson

As to what you write about the custom of interrupting the chassan, and the like, when he says a Torah thought or a maamar (and it may be said that it began so as not to embarrass one who is unable to say one): the answer of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, in such a case is known, that after he has said the entire maamar he should begin it again, and then they may interrupt him.

As to what you write about the age of chinuch: see the Laws of Torah Study of the Alter Rebbe (1:6), who rules that it is from sixteen until twenty-four!

Publisher's notes

Our teacher Rabbi Shmuel Elazar, may he live (מו"ה שמואל אלעזר שי'): Halperin, Jerusalem. Further letters to him: above, vol. 15, letter 5484, and the sources noted there.

"We are now approaching" (והרי מתקרבים): See also below, letter 5882.

"As to what you write about the custom of interrupting the chassan" (במ"ש ע"ד המנהג להפסיק החתן): A continuation of the letter above, vol. 15, letter 5726. See also above, letter 5779; below, letter 6007.

Summary

This letter encourages the recipient to rise ever higher in spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus, for whatever is demanded can be done and depends only on the will. With Kislev, the month of redemption, approaching, the days before Yud-Tes Kislev, the "head" of the year of Chassidus, are the preparation on which everything depends, and even the smallest opening is answered with a gate that never closes.