87 —הפצת פרסומי קה"ת, משניות בעל פה, ותפקיד הלוי במלחמת מדין

B"H, Monday, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, 5703.

Kavod Yedidenu iy"a vavac"h Rav Poalim, choviv v'chulu hatamim Maharil shiyichyeh HaLevi

Shalom u'Vrachah!

We gratefully acknowledge receipt of your letters with all their enclosures. Surely you have meanwhile received a letter from our secretary. We have instructed that the "Shmuessen" be sent to everyone for whom you requested them; cards were also sent to the members of "Mishnayos Baal Peh" whom you acquired, and whoever adds is given more.

The price of "Chinuch L'Na'ar" is 30 cents. Thank you for your promise to speak with the Talmud Torah administrators regarding our book; if they purchase a large quantity they will receive a discount of 20-30 percent.

We are attaching herewith a circular letter from Melach to educational institutions regarding our book. Perhaps you can kindly inform us of the addresses of all Talmud Torahs and other educational institutions in your city so that we can send them this circular as well.

In accordance with our conversation about the need to acquire regular subscribers for all Kehot publications, we are sending you signature sheets. Certainly they will help you fulfill your promise in this matter with G‑d's help.

If you wish to donate your extra copy of "Lemanechem Y" to the Kehot library, thank you very much.

Thank you for your suggestion regarding the conclusion of Admor's letter about sealing a door—that it should say "and afterwards he can seal it." If I learn anything further on this matter I will inform you.

To conclude with something related to this Shabbos: Did members of Shevet Levi participate in the war against Midian? There are two versions in Sifrei—brought in Yalkut Shimoni—on "lekol matos Yisrael": (a) "lekol," excluding Shevet Levi—that is, they did not go out to war; (b) "lekol," including Shevet Levi—and this is Rashi's version as he quotes it in his commentary accordingly. The hint in avodah (service) is as follows: The Rambam (end of Hilchos Shemittah v'Yovel) writes that Shevet Levi does not wage war like other Israelites. If so, why was this war different?

This is understood according to what is explained in the discourses on Parshas Chalu Tzu (in Likkutei Torah and by Admor Hazaken 259; see also Hayom Yom p. 74): The war against the seven nations represents conquering seven negative traits—gross evil—and subjugating them meant settling their land and engaging in plowing, sowing, etc. Therefore, Levites were separated from worldly matters (Rambam ibid.), and their role was "they shall teach Your judgments to Yaakov and Your Torah to Israel" (Devarim 33:10), since plowing and sowing contradict this (see Berachos 35b). They have no inherent connection to material matters or gross evil.

However, regarding Midian—the war was not to conquer a settlement but rather to avenge G‑d's vengeance as Ramban writes (Bamidbar 31:23 etc.). In avodah this refers to refining subtle evil; therefore even a Levi must join this battle.

This also explains another difference between the war against Midian and other wars: In this war there were a thousand from each tribe equally—from both large and small tribes. The reason is simple based on the above: In wars of conquest—to inherit the land—those with larger populations needed more soldiers; similarly in avodah—open evil depends on greater involvement with worldly matters (the thirty-nine labors of weekdays). But subtle evil exists even among those who serve G‑d (see Chalu Tzu by Admor Hazaken).

However, it is difficult work to eradicate subtle evil (as seen from the length and difficulty of this final exile compared to Babylonian exile). Therefore this battle must be specifically by Moshe Rabbeinu's instruction—and his extension in every generation especially during this last exile—the generation preceding Mashiach—as written in Tikunei Zohar 69b and Likkutei Torah by Arizal Parshas Va'eschanan. Going out to battle must be done with self-sacrifice (Sifrei brought in Yalkut Shimoni), through which no one was missing after battle; all enter Eretz Yisrael through our righteous Mashiach speedily now.

Summary

The Rebbe guides on distributing Kehot publications efficiently and highlights spiritual lessons from whether Shevet Levi joined the war against Midian—teaching that even those usually removed from worldly matters must sometimes engage directly in refining even subtle forms of negativity.