The Radio: Part 3

00:01 Behemsach, in continuation to the earlier installments in regards to radio and what was cited from the Rebbe Sichas, the insights in Avedas Hashem, we continue now with installment number three. Referring to the Sichas of Shabbos Mishpatim, Tov Shin Chavov, that is early winter 1966. The Rebbe says as follows, as is translated here in English, The nature of the mitzvah of tzdocka in all its forms, including giving in a way that he does not know to whom he gave, is that it must be given to another. For if one gives to himself, even if he does not have even 200 zoos, which is the basics to receive charity, this is not considered tzdocka. In contrast, the same is not true for tater study. However, when it comes to tater study, whose essence is through speech, for they, the words of tater, are like life, are life to those who bring them forth with their mouths, how can there be such a situation where the teacher does not know who he is teaching and the recipient does not know from whom he is learning? One could say, somewhat wittily, that this possibility is realized through tater study via radio. The teacher does not know who the listeners are, and the listeners may not know from whom they are hearing the words, for they may be hearing a recording from a tape, or the speaker may not even be the person whose name is attributed to the recording, but someone else altogether. And although in tater study there

02:11 is a virtue to your eyes seeing your teacher, and even afterward, anyone who says a teaching in the name of the originator, its originator, should imagine as if the originator is standing before him, as it's mentioned in Yerushalmi, as it's explained by the Tzemach Tzedek in his notes on Tilim, on that verse, about the great advantage in this matter. And note that also in tzdocka there is an advantage in knowing over not knowing, for only when he knows can he fulfill the higher level of one who appeases the poor and is blessed with eleven blessings. Nevertheless, there is also a virtue when the learning takes place in a way that neither side knows the other. There is another advantage in tater study via radio regarding the spreading of the wellsprings of Hasidus outward, especially as it was conveyed to me that this is the anniversary of the beginning of Tanya classes on the radio. As mentioned in an earlier installment that Shabbos Parsha Mishpatim marks more direct mitzvoi Shabbos Parsha Mishpatim is when the Tanya program on the radio began in 1960. And this is 1966 and from time to time, occasionally over the years, the Rebbe would make mention of it on this very Shabbos, Shabbos Mishpatim. In the study of Tanya via radio, the Rebbe continues, the idea of your wellspring should spread outward is fulfilled literally according to the straightforward interpretation of yafutsu, they shall spread, a spreading to many places simultaneously. For when one studies a discourse of Hasidus with one

04:33 individual, the teaching at the time of action reaches only that person. Though there is hope that afterward he will teach it to another Yid, and he to yet another, and so on, until in the end the teachings of Hasidus will be disseminated. The same applies when learning with a group or class. But when Hasidus is studied via radio, the spreading happens at the very moment, at that instant, the wellsprings of Hasidus reach every corner of the globe, even to the lowest outside. Even someone who has not yet reached a level where he desires to come here and learn Hasidus, yet being in his home, the teachings reach him. Even someone who turned on the radio, not for this purpose, but to hear something entirely unrelated, he too, in the meantime, hears words of Hasidus being taught. And even more than that, that the teachings of Hasidus broadcast on the radio reach even in places where there are no Yidden to hear them. Even there, the wellsprings of Hasidus reach. And even in places where there is no receiver capable of picking up the sound, nevertheless, the information that the Torah is being spoken on the radio reaches and exists there. Not merely in potential, but in actuality. Only the tool to receive it is missing. For the receiver doesn't create something new, it merely picks up what is already present. This is especially true when the teachings of Hasidus transmitted over radio are taught in a manner of words that come from the heart, which

06:36 then enter the heart of the listener. Especially when they are spoken with the self-nullification, nullification, beetle, of they shall fear Hashem, the word as is a secondary, something secondary to the primary meaning here, the nullification of the speaker, who is not an entity for himself, but only a conduit, a channel through which passes the voice of the Alter Rebbe, who gave over his self to us in the Sefer of Tanya, the written Torah, the Torah Shebeksav of Hasidic teachings. And when the learning happens in this way, the greatness of its virtue is understood. We will, im yirtze Hashem, continue in the next installment.