5919 —הגדלת חוג הלימוד בכמות ובאיכות, בלי להתנות את ההשתתפות ברמה הראויה

B"H, 12th of Kislev, 5718

Brooklyn, N.Y.

The avrech Avraham Baruch, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In due course I received your letter about your trip to Chicago, and afterward the reports through the Rav and Chassid, etc., etc., Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov^[1], and likewise through Rabbi Ben Zion Althaus, that you have organized a study circle, which gave me satisfaction. Surely in this too you are fulfilling "one ascends in holiness"^[2]: to increase the circle in quantity, in the number of students, and in the quality of the study. These do not always necessarily depend on each other^[3]. What I mean is that one should not set the condition that all participants must be at the proper level right away, for that^[4] limits the work, and it is known that even the simplest Jew is obligated in Torah study^[5]. Rather, I mean that on the one hand one must try to increase the number of participants even though they have not yet reached the proper level, and on the other hand, those who are suited for it, one must try to raise their quality.

May G‑d^[6] grant you success in your work for the good of others, which is "a great principle in the Torah", as Rabbi Akiva said of the pasuk "You shall love your fellow as yourself"^[7]; and this work will bring success also in your personal affairs, materially and spiritually.

Surely there is no need to remind you about the preparations for the auspicious day of Yud-Tes Kislev^[8], and certainly you will pass this on to those you influence as well.

With blessing.

[Publisher's notes: Avraham Baruch: Gabbai.]

Notes

1. The Rav and Chassid … Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov (הרה"ח וכו' וכו' הרחמ"א שי' חדקוב): הרחמ"א — R. Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov, head of the Rebbe's secretariat.

2. "One ascends in holiness" (מעלין בקדש): Shabbos 21b: "one ascends in holiness and does not descend." That is: to keep adding to the circle.

3. These do not always necessarily depend on each other (שלא תמיד מוכרח להיות הא בהא תליא): Aramaic, "the one depends on the other". That is: increasing the number of participants does not necessarily come at the expense of the quality of study, or the reverse; so joining should not be made conditional on being at the proper level at once.

4. That (עי"ז): על ידי זה, "through this".

5. Even the simplest Jew is obligated in Torah study (אפילו אדם הפשוט שבישראל מחוייב בתלמוד תורה): See Rambam, Laws of Torah Study 1:8: "Every Jewish man is obligated in Torah study, whether poor or rich, whether healthy or suffering." That is: even one who is no great scholar is obligated to study, so the circle should not be closed to him.

6. G‑d (השי"ת): השם יתברך.

7. "You shall love your fellow as yourself" (ואהבת לרעך כמוך): Vayikra 19:18: "You shall love your fellow as yourself; I am G‑d", and Rashi there: "Rabbi Akiva said: this is a great principle in the Torah." That is: work for the good of others fulfills "a great principle in the Torah".

8. Yud-Tes Kislev (י"ט כסלו): The day of the Alter Rebbe's release from imprisonment in Petersburg in 5559 (1798), "the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus" (Hayom Yom, 19 Kislev).

Summary

Pleased to hear that the recipient organized a study circle in Chicago, the Rebbe tells him to grow it both in numbers and in the quality of study, without making participation conditional on reaching the proper level at once, since every Jew is obligated in Torah study: draw in more participants, and raise the level of those who are ready. Work for others, "a great principle in the Torah", brings success in one's own affairs too.