63 —הרחבת משניות בעל פה וטהרת האויר על ידי בעלי עסק

B"H, Wednesday, the 10th of Adar Sheini, 5715.

Brooklyn, NY.

Kavod Haraha"g Haraha"ch Hanoda LeTehilah, Maskil Al Davar Tov, Geza Tarshishim, iy"a vavac"h etc. Yehuda Leib Eliezerov Jerusalem T.V.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letters to Machane Yisrael regarding the Sefer Torah for greeting Mashiach, along with lists of participants in the Mishnayos Baal Peh society and the Sefer Torah: a) The intention behind founding the Mishnayos Baal Peh society was not that only yeshiva students should study Mishnayos by heart, but that it should encompass all of Beis Yisrael. There should be a campaign so that everyone who is able participates by learning their portion—about three to five chapters per year (one Mishnah per week)—and reviewing what they already know while walking outside, standing in their shop, sitting on the train, or at any other opportunity, in order to purify the air. Surely you have already received a collection of letters from my father-in-law the Rebbe shlita—the second one—and see there his talk on this matter. We are certain that if you organize your campaign as above, you will find hundreds of people—even among businessmen (who are primary in work outside—"I will find you outside," and it is also known about the virtues of businessmen as explained in Chassidus; some places are referenced in Biur L'devarim HaMaschil Mayim Rabim in Likkutei Torah for Lag B'Omer)—who will participate in this society. It should be noted that it has been decided that the siyum (completion) will be shared by all members and will take place on Sunday after Shavuos this year G‑d willing.

b) Indeed you are correct that to expand Machane Yisrael's activities in our holy land it would be necessary and desirable for someone to travel to all settlements etc., but unfortunately we do not yet see a way to take on such expenses. Surely with proper searching you can find in every city and settlement local residents who will engage in all matters of Machane Yisrael as needed; they themselves will serve as representatives of Machane Yisrael on site.

c) We have received receipts from the World Tehillim Society, but we cannot give them to donors since they also mention the name of the Kollel. Surely you know that here there must be extra care regarding any monetary matter so there is no room for any suspicion whatsoever. Therefore I request strongly: please print receipts specifically for Chitas and send them to us promptly.

d) Enclosed is a list of members for Chitas. It would be appropriate to make a kind of certificate—on thin paper—for each Tehillim group listed here and send them to us after they are signed as appropriate; we will then deliver them here to their owners.

e) Everything published regarding Machane Yisrael matters and Merkaz L'Inyanei Chinuch is sent from here to there from time to time and surely arrives on schedule.

To conclude with words of Torah related to the above topic: It seems there is further proof connecting purification of the air specifically with businessmen. The concept of "air" in one's service and soul is explained at length in Chassidus; see Torah Or Parshas Vayeitzei Dvarim HaMaschil Nachas Mitzvah Lehanicha which discusses "letters—silent—relative to intellect," and mitzvos relative to Torah. It is understood that "bad air" (which is much worse even than "thick air," as brought in Likkutei Torah Dvarim HaMaschil Al Kein Yomru HaMoshelim perek gimel; see also Seder Dvarim HaMaschil Hasket U'Shema Yisrael 5693 where apparently no distinction is made between thick and bad air; regarding bad air see Nazir 54b "air of foreign lands," Sanhedrin 109a "air of Migdal") refers to silent letters or actions opposite holiness—and one must purify the air through ketores (incense), which removes bad odor as explained in Dvarim HaMaschil Sa'ir Izim 5664 (see Moreh Nevuchim part 3 ch.48 about ketores removing bad odor; Zohar vol.2 p.219a-b says ketores removes impurity; note that Zohar and Dvarim HaMaschil Sa'ir Izim refer to ketores before prayer; see Sha'ar HaKolel ch.3 sec.12; but in Torah Or and Or HaTorah below it also refers to ketores after Tamid). That is: practical mitzvos generally—as explained in discourses on Chanukah Dvarim HaMaschil Kaf Hei B'Kislev referenced in Or HaTorah—which corresponds specifically with businessmen—and particularly one can say it refers to speaking words of Torah where there are two advantages: Torah itself and mitzvah performance; whereas mitzvos alone require guarding as explained in Likkutei Torah Seder Dvarim HaMaschil V'Zos HaMitzvah and Dvarim HaMaschil Acharei Hei Elokenu with its explanation; also Seder Dvarim HaMaschil L'maan Tira Shamor Zeh Mishnah etc.; this level within Torah is "the breath produced by speech when reciting Mishnah etc.," "the breath produces breath."

Perhaps one can say that purifying the air is only preparation for complete redemption (it is also known that ingathering of exiles occurs only through merit of Mishnayos—still countable—but Mashiach's generation and Olam Haba are uncountable). This is explained at length in Dvarim HaMaschil V'Eileh Shemos by Admor Hazaken; it can also be understood above: letters of Torah are called horses—"the horse upon which the king rode," Matan Torah was accepted anew during Achashverosh's days (Shabbat 88b); thus through preparing these horses we will soon merit fulfillment: "He shall be like a gazelle or young hart... Achashverosh merited hastening," as explained further at end of Torah Or.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that everyone—including businesspeople—should participate in learning Mishnayos by heart as a means of purifying both themselves and their environment spiritually. This collective effort prepares us for redemption and brings G‑dliness into daily life through practical action.