Torah Study - Part 6

00:00 The Hamsha in reference to the earlier installments regarding setting up designated times for Torah study on a daily basis, we now continue with installment number six, where we will refer to additional responses of the Rebbe to individual people relating to this topic of Kvir Itim the Torah. First occasion was on the fourteenth of Iyar, Tov Shin Tes 1955. The Rebbe wrote to a mechanech, an educator, the following, "I was pleased from what you wrote about the shiurim which you deliver in public and what you learn on your own." And the Rebbe added an interesting comment, "By the way, pertaining to one of your shiurim which is late at night, surely it is in a manner which is not in contrast to what is mentioned in Hilchos Talmuh Torah of the Alter Rebbe, Chapter one, paragraph twelve." The Alter Rebbe refers to a person who is a teacher, that at night, he should not keep long evenings because he will not be able to function in a sincere way for the children in class. So this is what the Rebbe was referring to, the fact that the late night study may disturb the teaching one does with the students in the daytime. When the Rebbe saw that this person is keeping shiurim late, the Rebbe pointed out to him that he's a melamed, a teacher, and he has to make sure that he will be able to function in the morning. On another occasion, in a letter dated the fifteenth of Elul Tov, Shin Chaf Alef,

01:52 nineteen sixty-one, the Rebbe wrote to Nshei of Bnei Chabad, which is the organization, Agudas Nshei of Bnei Chabad, of the women and daughters of Chabad, to stand guard and demand from their husbands that they participate. The husbands participate in the shiurei Torah on a daily basis. The Rebbe concluded the letter with a request that all who turn to him requesting a bracha during Elul and Tishrei should make note of their husband's participation in the shiurei Torah. As a follow-up, the Rebbe's secretary turned to all of Anash with the following message, "Based on what we heard from the Rebbe, we want to urge and request that in the panim which are being sent to the Rebbe," which means the paganus, "and in particular during the days of Yemei Harachamim Veharatzim, the auspicious days, days of mercy, everyone should mention what shiurim he has in Torah." On a third occasion, a person once sent a letter to the Rebbe. This was in the mid-1940s, before the Rebbe accepted the leadership, which was formally in 1951. The person's letter included his comments on the monthly Talks and Tales, a publication for children which began featuring in 1942. This was published by Lubavitch's educational arm, titled Merkos Linyoni Chinuch. He then asked the Rebbe if he should continue to be involved in Torah projects as the above, or to rather move on to his personal business. The Rebbe initially wrote in Hebrew, "Ma she'ein ani yochal haskim," what I cannot agree with, as it's translated here in English, referring

03:59 to the consideration of leaving Torah matters and going to business. And the Rebbe continued. This is translated here from Hebrew. The Rebbe began with, "Haga be'atzmecha", conclude on your own. Think about it. Thousands of years, his soul, which is the priority by every Yid, involved herself in Torah study. And after our life in this physical world, the neshamah returns to above to occupy herself in Torah study and delve into its wisdom, which is endless, eternal. But in a certain time period, over the course of some decades, Hashem has prepared for him a business. The Rebbe concludes with a question, how could he see this as his business when it comes to business and Torah as something additional? When the whole background of the neshamah, and also after one hundred and twenty, the neshamah is involved, engrossed in the study of Torah. And the Rebbe concluded, but everyone needs to be cautious to study Torah in accordance with the truth, as our sages have taught us.