151 —בר מצוה, המלחמה עם היצר הרע, ואור יום הפטירה של יהושע

B"H, Monday, the first of Iyar, 5704.

Brooklyn.

To the honorable Haraha"g vavaha"ch iy"a v'rav pa'alim ba'al middos terumiyos etc. Moreinu HaRav Chaim Tzvi shiyichyeh

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your invitation to your son's Bar Mitzvah—since I am unable to attend in person, I am sending my blessings that he should continue to grow in both material and spiritual matters and become G‑d-fearing, a chassid, and a scholar.

To connect the Bar Mitzvah with today—the 26th of Nissan—one can explain by way of allusion: The essence of Bar Mitzvah is that one becomes obligated in Torah and mitzvos; at this point, the yetzer tov (good inclination) joins a person (Koheles Rabbah IV:13), meaning it is then that the holy soul truly enters a person (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim by our Rebbe, Mahadura Basra sec. 360). It can be said that this is precisely why Koheles Rabbah uses the term "joins"—for now he goes out to battle against the yetzer hara (evil inclination) to conquer (Tanya ch. 9) the "small city," which is the body (Nedarim 32b; see there Rosh's commentary).

How can one defeat the yetzer hara? Our Sages said (Bava Basra 16a): The Holy One created the yetzer hara and created Torah as its antidote. The main battle with the yetzer hara began upon entering Eretz Yisrael; in the desert, Bnei Yisrael had little involvement with worldly matters—they ate bread from heaven, their clothes did not wear out, clouds of glory surrounded them and killed snakes. In Sanhedrin (108a), regarding the generation of the desert there is a dispute between Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Eliezer; it appears that halacha follows Rabbi Eliezer that they do come to Olam Haba (the World to Come), since Rav Bibi cited Rabbi Yehoshua like Rabbi Eliezer (ibid. 110b). Especially according to what is written in Sefer Asarah Maamaros Maamar Tikun Daled vol. II ch. 8—that according to Rabbi Akiva they have no portion in Olam Haba because they have no need for it—and based on this explanation we answer: According to Rabbi Akiva how are those who died in the desert compared to someone who is blind—as noted by Tosafos s.v. "V'damu" (Bava Basra 73b).

This is why specifically Yehoshua bin Nun—who led those entering Eretz Yisrael—was called by our Sages (Midrash Aggadah Rabbah Introduction sec. 10) "Yehoshua—the head of conquerors." Since victory in this battle comes through Torah as above, Yehoshua received all of Torah from Moshe Rabbeinu—as our Sages said (Temurah 16a): Moshe said to Yehoshua: Ask me any doubts you have; Yehoshua replied: My teacher, did I ever leave you for even one hour? However, later as a punishment he forgot three hundred laws etc.—see Rambam's introduction to Yad HaChazakah and commentaries on Mishnah Avos ch.1 for further detail.

Our Sages also said (end of Berachos): Torah scholars have no rest—not in this world nor in the next—they go from strength to strength; meaning each day they ascend higher in their holy service. Therefore, on their day of passing they are at their highest level. See Metzudos David on Melachim II 2:10 and all sources cited in Sefer Maavar Yabok Maamar Aleph ch.17—there is an additional quality on one's yahrzeit: "All human toil that his soul labored during his life above—in a hidden state—is revealed and shines openly from above downward at his passing," as our Rebbe writes in Iggeres HaKodesh sec.28. This may be what our Sages meant (Avos ch.6): "At one's passing only Torah and good deeds accompany him"—literally at that moment—and this illumination shines throughout the world generally and especially upon his students (as written there and in sec.27). Similarly every year on this day—as known regarding Lag BaOmer—and see also Yevamos (122a) Rashi s.v. "Tlasa" quoting Teshuvas HaGeonim—that an aspect of this tzaddik's Torah and service shines into the world; this illumination means special assistance from Above to follow in his ways.

Therefore also on Yehoshua bin Nun's yahrzeit there is special heavenly assistance to be a conqueror just as Yehoshua was head of conquerors. The passing of Yehoshua bin Nun was on 26 Nissan as stated at end of Megillas Taanis and cited in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim sec.580.

Blessings for immediate teshuvah and immediate redemption,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
From a copy by secretariat.
Moreinu HaRav Chaim Tzvi: Krieger.
Bar Mitzvah matter: see also above letter no. 60.

Summary

The Rebbe connects Bar Mitzvah with spiritual growth through Torah study and overcoming challenges like Yehoshua bin Nun did when entering Eretz Yisrael. On Yehoshua’s yahrzeit we receive extra help from Above for these battles—a lesson for every Bar Mitzvah boy.