6588 —תגובה למבקרים, לימוד חסידות, ושיפור עצמי רוחני

B"H, 8th of Kislev, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of the 2nd of Kislev, with your questions:

a) How to conduct yourself with those who speak against the teachings of Chassidus^[1], etc.

In your situation and position, you should not enter into arguments with them at all; instead, add in diligence and assiduousness in your study of nigleh and Chassidus. The assurance is known that even a little light dispels much darkness^[2] — and all the more so much light.

b) Your question about studying the teachings of Chassidus.

The question is greatly surprising, since it is clearly written in the holy Zohar, and explained in the introduction to Shaar HaHakdamos by Rabbi Chaim^[3] Vital, disciple of the Arizal^[4], and in the teachings of the Alter Rebbe, and also in the works of the Gra^[5] of Vilna^[6], that the study of the inner dimension of the Torah is obligatory — which in our generation has been revealed only in the teachings of Chassidus. And what R. Chaim Vital writes in the name of the Arizal is known: that neglecting this study prolongs the exile and delays the redemption^[7]. See there^[8] awe-inspiring words (in the introduction to Shaar HaHakdamos mentioned).

c) Rectification for the blemish, etc.

First of all, you must stop thinking about this for the time being^[9], and fix your thoughts on the letters of the Torah and of prayer. Also be careful about the immersion of Ezra^[10], and every weekday morning set aside some coins for tzedakah^[11]. And keep the well-known Chitas lessons (Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya).

d) How to arrange your study in the future.

It is understood, and also plain, that you should study within a framework that includes the study of nigleh and the study of the inner dimension of the Torah, as in the words of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital^[12] mentioned above, which are founded "on the holy mountains"^[13] — the words of the holy Zohar, among them in the holy Zohar, part III, 124b and 275b, and in several places^[14][15].

With blessing for good tidings^[16] in all the above,

In the name of the Rebbe^[17] shlita,

Secretary

[Publisher's note: "And also in the works of the Gra": see also above, vol. 16, letter 5786, and in the references in the notes there.]

Notes

1. The teachings of Chassidus (תורת דא"ח): דברי אלקים חיים, "words of the living G‑d", a name for the teachings of Chassidus.

2. Even a little light dispels much darkness (אפילו מעט אור דוחה הרבה חשך): See Tanya, chapter 12: "just as light has superiority, dominion and rule over darkness, for a little physical light dispels much of the darkness, which is driven away by itself" (after Koheles 2:13: "as light excels darkness"). In the letter: instead of arguing with the darkness, add light in your study, and the darkness is driven away of itself.

3. Rabbi Chaim (ר"ח): רבי חיים.

4. The Arizal (האריז"ל): האלקי רבי יצחק זכרונו לברכה.

5. The Gra (הגר"א): הגאון רבי אליהו (of Vilna).

6. And also in the works of the Gra of Vilna (וגם בחבור ספרי הגר"א מווילנא): That is: not only in the books of Kabbalah and Chassidus, but also in the works of the Gaon of Vilna, who too laid great stress on the obligation to study the hidden wisdom (see the publisher's note at the end of the letter).

7. Prolongs the exile and delays the redemption (מאריך הגלות ומעכב את הגאולה): In R. Chaim Vital's introduction to Shaar HaHakdamos (printed also at the beginning of Etz Chaim), he explains on the basis of the Zohar that the redemption depends on the study of the wisdom of truth, and those who hold back from studying it cause the exile to be prolonged.

8. See there (עיי"ש): עיין שם.

9. For the time being (לע"ע): לעת עתה. That is: the first directive is to take his mind off the matter and not dwell on it, for the thinking itself does harm; and in its place to fix his thoughts on words of Torah and prayer.

10. The immersion of Ezra (טבילת עזרא): One of the ten enactments of Ezra, as stated in Bava Kamma 82a: "Ezra enacted ten enactments... and he enacted immersion for those who have become impure"; see Berachos 22a–b.

11. Set aside some coins for tzedakah (להפריש איזה פרוטות לצדקה): After Bava Basra 10a: "Rabbi Elazar would give a coin to a poor man and then pray. He said: as it is written, 'I, in righteousness, shall behold Your face'"; and the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 92:10: "It is good to give tzedakah before prayer, as it says, 'I, in righteousness, shall behold Your face.'" On the power of tzedakah to atone, see Iggeres HaTeshuvah, chapter 3.

12. R. Chaim Vital (הרח"ו): הרב רבי חיים ויטאל.

13. "On the holy mountains" (בהררי קדש): After the pasuk, Tehillim 87:1: "His foundation is on the holy mountains." That is: the words of the Arizal and R. Chaim Vital are founded on the words of the Zohar.

14. In several places (בכ"מ): בכמה מקומות.

15. Zohar, part III, 124b (זהר ח"ג קכד, ב): (Raaya Mehemna, Parshas Naso): "Through this work of yours, which is the Book of the Zohar, they will go out of exile with mercy" — through the study of the inner dimension of the Torah they will go out of exile.

16. Good tidings (לבשו"ט): לבשורות טובות.

17. The Rebbe (כ"ק אדמו"ר): כבוד קדושת אדוננו מורנו ורבנו. The letter was written by the secretary in the Rebbe's name.

Summary

Answering four questions, the Rebbe's secretary writes: do not argue with those who speak against Chassidus, but add light through diligent study, for a little light dispels much darkness. The study of the inner Torah, revealed in our generation in Chassidus, is obligatory per the Zohar, R. Chaim Vital, the Alter Rebbe and the Gra, and its neglect delays the redemption. For rectification: stop dwelling on it, immerse, give tzedakah each weekday morning, keep Chitas. Study in a framework of both nigleh and Chassidus.