6756 —ניתוח הפרוסטטה: התייעצות עם שני רופאים מומחים, ושאלת חיתוך השבילים

B"H, 9 Adar II, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After a prolonged interruption, your letter of 20 and 28 Adar I^[1] was received, in which you write the doctor's opinion^[2] regarding your health.

It is somewhat surprising that you write^[3] that a prostate operation is a serious matter, even though some years ago part of it was done. Here, after all, the above is done and is regarded as a routine operation. And although there are matters in this that require clarification according to the Shulchan Aruch (for as a rule the ducts are cut)^[4], nevertheless, since part of it has already been done, there is surely no room for this clarification either. Likewise, it is not quite clear what you write, that it is difficult to break up the stone because of its size, for seemingly this makes no difference^[5]. In any event, as to what to do in practice, you should consult once again with two specialist doctors and do as they jointly advise; and may G‑d, "Who heals all flesh and does wonders"^[6], give them the right idea as to which treatment to advise, and may the treatment succeed.

We are, after all, in the month of Adar, whose days are days of good fortune and success for all Israel^[7].

It is my hope, although you do not mention a word about it, that you are active in spreading the wellsprings^[8], and I wish to hope that you are also adding to it, as is required by the rule that one ascends in holiness^[9].

With blessings for good news^[10] and for a joyous Purim.

As to where to receive the medical treatment: consult your friend the doctor, who knows the details of the places and of the doctors who treat it.

Publisher's notes

For as a rule the ducts are cut (כי ע"פ רוב חותכים השבילים): See also above, vol. 15, letter 5465, and the references in the notes there.

Notes

1. Adar I (אד"ר): אד"ר = אדר ראשון.

2. The doctor's opinion (חוו"ד): חוו"ד = חוות דעת.

3. That you write (מ"ש): מ"ש = מה שכתב; כהנ"ל = כהנזכר לעיל, "the above".

4. For as a rule the ducts are cut (כי ע"פ רוב חותכים השבילים): שו"ע = שולחן ערוך. In this operation the seminal ducts are usually cut, and that raises questions of halachah. See Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer 5:2: ובג' אברים אפשר שיפסל הזכר: בגיד, בביצים, ובשבילים שבהם נתבשל שכבת זרע, והם הנקראים חוטי ביצים, "A male can become disqualified through three organs: the member, the testicles, and the ducts in which the seed matures, which are called the spermatic cords." In letter 5465 (20 Iyar 5717) the Rebbe wrote to a doctor in Jerusalem, of whom it was printed in Otzar HaPoskim that he performs the prostate operation "without severing the duct," asking him to publicize it, "since it concerns the public. For example, the doctors here say (and they have influenced several rabbis too) that one must sever it."

5. This makes no difference (אין זה נפק"מ): נפק"מ = נפקא מינה: it has no bearing on the matter.

6. "Who heals all flesh and does wonders" (הרופא כל בשר ומפליא לעשות): השי"ת = השם יתברך, "G‑d, blessed be He". These are the closing words of the blessing Asher Yatzar. Berachos 60b: "How does it close? Rav said: 'Who heals the sick.' Shmuel said: Has Abba made the whole world sick? Rather: 'Who heals all flesh'"; and in the end: הלכך נמרינהו לתרוייהו: רופא כל בשר ומפליא לעשות, "therefore we say both: 'Who heals all flesh and does wonders'."

7. Days of good fortune and success (ימי מזל והצלחה): Taanis 29b: בר ישראל דאית ליה דינא בהדי נכרי לישתמיט מיניה באב, דריע מזליה, ולימצי נפשיה באדר, דבריא מזליה, "A Jew who has a lawsuit with a gentile should avoid him in Av, when his fortune is poor, and make himself available in Adar, when his fortune is strong."

8. Spreading the wellsprings (הפצת המעינות): עד"ז = על דבר זה, "about this". Spreading the wellsprings: spreading the teachings of Chassidus outward.

9. One ascends in holiness (מעלין בקדש): Shabbos 21b: וטעמא דבית הלל דמעלין בקדש ואין מורידין, "and the reason of Beis Hillel is that one ascends in holiness and does not descend." It is not enough to continue spreading the wellsprings as before; one must add to it.

10. Good news (לבשו"ט): לבשו"ט = לבשורות טובות.

Summary

Answering a letter received after a prolonged interruption about a prostate operation, the Rebbe wonders why the recipient calls it serious, since here it is a routine operation; the halachic questions it raises (the ducts are usually cut) no longer apply, since part of it was already done. He advises consulting two specialists and following their joint opinion, blesses him in Adar, a month of good fortune, and hopes he is adding to his work in spreading Chassidus.