119 —נישואין, קשר הנשמה והגוף, ותפקיד הצדקה

Shalom u'Vrachah! Tuesday, 24 Kislev, 5704.

To the distinguished Avrech, vavac"h iy"a etc. HaRav HaTamim Moreinu HaRav Reb Yosef Weinberg. Shalom u'Vrachah!

On your entering into marriage with your bride, I hereby express my blessing that your home be an everlasting edifice founded on Torah and mitzvah. May it be G‑d's will that—according to the order of spiritual progression—after the soul descends and is clothed in a body (where soul and body are like man and woman relative to each other, as stated in Zohar I, beginning of Chayei Sarah and page 181b), their conduct should follow our Sages' teaching (Yalkut Shimoni Shoftim remez 42): "There is no woman among women as worthy as one who fulfills her husband's will"—meaning the body acts according to the soul's will. After some time in this world, a person needs a helper opposite him—literally a wife (Yevamot 83a). In this too, man and woman merit that the Shechinah dwells between them (Sotah 17a). Then, through his service, he acquires his portion in the world by refining and illuminating it; this portion is like a wife to its worker who is called man and master—see Yalkut Shimoni Reish Tehillim Mashal for one who went to marry a woman etc.—and the working person takes his portion first—in spirituality, which is drawn down through his wife also into actual materiality: "to place blessing upon your house," as our Sages said (Yevamot 82b) and explained in Likkutei Torah end of Vezot HaBerachah.

But even in man's service there must be an example and birth for drawing down [G‑dliness] all the way below. This is the service of tzedakah—as explained at length by Rabbeinu HaZaken in Iggeret HaKodesh in many places—both literal tzedakah and spiritual tzedakah: having compassion on one who has nothing at all—in Torah and mitzvot—and therefore can only act without understanding or love/fear (see Iggeret HaKodesh sections 68–69 etc.). Moreover, after sinning or damaging spiritually he descends even lower than the world of action—and yet he is aroused toward Torah/mitzvot, drawing life down to him from above to raise him from deep pit—as known regarding "Ki Tireh Arom VeChisito" (If you see someone naked, clothe him; Purim 5691 talk based on Tanna Devei Eliyahu Rabbah ch. 26).

The general principle: when both aforementioned women are worthy and fulfill their husbands' will, then also this "woman"—his portion in the world created only to serve him—fulfills her husband's will. As it is written: "If you walk in My statutes... I will give your rains in their season... you will dwell securely on the land."

With blessings of Mazal Tov; immediate teshuvah—immediate redemption.

Rabbi Menachem Schneersohn

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that marriage mirrors the relationship between soul and body; both require harmony for blessing. Charity elevates even those furthest from spirituality. When both partners fulfill their roles with devotion, they draw down G‑d's blessings materially and spiritually.