The positive forces that are active within creation

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Advice concerning the publication of a collection of frequently recurring matters of Jewish Law; the difference between the embracing approach of Lubavitch and the insular approach of certain other Chassidic groups; the establishment of a communal Jewish school in Montreal

No. 656

This letter was sent to R. Yaakov Yosef Gurkov.

B"H, 3 Menachem Av, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your letter: When I visited the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, last Thursday, I remembered you and the members of your household [for blessing].

With regard to your question as to whether to complete [training] in all the details of the profession of ritual slaughter, my opinion is that it is very proper to do so.

Regarding your statement that you are not yet thinking of a position as a ritual slaughterer: Who knows what hidden powers and influence exist in G-d's thought! In particular, this applies to an idea that arises in thought. See [Tanya,] Iggeres HaKodesh, the beginning of Epistle 22, [which refers to our Sages' statement:[646] "One does not know] how he will earn his livelihood, nor when the kingdom of the House of David will return." [Implied is] that "an equation is established between the two."[647]

Certainly you will be able to establish yourself in a manner where there will be no conflict with the other elements of your Divine service.

Regarding your question whether one may exchange fixed times [established for Torah study] in order to solicit money:[648] You do not explain whether you are referring to individual study sessions or communal ones (in which instance, [negating the study session] would weaken other people). In any regard, one can assume that, by and large, it is only one's imagination, a ploy of the yetzer [hara] to think that [one must] be exchanged [with the other]. And if [such an exchange] is truly a necessity, you can make up for the fixed times of study at night.

Certainly, the words of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, to you in the letter sent you during the week of his passing, are etched in your memory as "engraved letters."[649] [In that letter,] he blessed you "with success in your work in my shlichus in material and spiritual matters." Therefore be strong in the fulfillment of this mission, for certainly you will see wondrous success in it. You must merely do what is incumbent upon you happily and hold fast to the pipeline of hiskashrus.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson

Enclosed are the six letters that you sent. With thanks.[650]

   

Notes:

646. (Back to text) [See Pesachim 54b.]

647. (Back to text) [And just as it cannot be known when David's monarchy will be restored, a person cannot know what will be the source of his livelihood.]

648. (Back to text) [Apparently, for the support of educational institutions.]

649. (Back to text) [Chassidus (Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar, p. 45a, et al.) explains the difference between letters that are written and letters that are engraved. Engraved letters are an intrinsic and inseparable part of the entity on which they are engraved.]

650. (Back to text) [Apparently, the Rebbe had requested that chassidim who had letters from the Rebbe Rayatz should send them to the Rebbe who would have them copied and then returned.]

The positive forces that are active within creation

Table of contents

Search this book:

Advice concerning the publication of a collection of frequently recurring matters of Jewish Law; the difference between the embracing approach of Lubavitch and the insular approach of certain other Chassidic groups; the establishment of a communal Jewish school in Montreal