178 —שלבי ניחום אבלים ונחמה אלוקית

B"H, 23rd of Teves, 5705.

Brooklyn.

To the esteemed administration of Kollel Chabad in Beirut and at its head, Haraha"g and Haraha"ch, renowned for praise, Maskil al Davar Tov vavac"h iy"a etc. Sh"b Mohar"r Shiel Shlita.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter of consolation in due time, and I waited to reply in hopes I could clarify exactly the day of my father's passing, but so far I have not succeeded—the telegram was sent from there on August 12th, which is the 23rd of Menachem Av.

Thank you very much for establishing regular study and prayer sessions in memory of my father, of blessed memory. Also for your prayers for the health and well-being of my mother—may she live a long and good life.

And great is gemilus chesed (acts of kindness), as it is said (Sukkah 49b), for it is an extraordinary good (Moreh Nevuchim III:53 as brought in Derech Emunah to tzt"z on the verse 'Vaya'as D'varim LaAdam', see there).

It can be explained regarding comforting mourners according to Chassidus: It is known in many places that the order is: Itaruta d'Le'eila (arousal from Above—which awakens and gives strength for Itaruta d'L'tata), then Itaruta d'L'tata (which must be fitting and a vessel to receive the subsequent Itaruta d'Le'eila that comes after Itaruta d'L'tata and according to its measure), then an even higher Itaruta d'Le'eila than before. See Likkutei Torah Shir HaShirim 'LeHavin Inyan HaTa'am Lama SheHaItaruta d'Le'eila', etc.

This is also how it works with comforting mourners (and according to Halachah it is considered a positive commandment from the Torah; even according to Rambam it is at least a rabbinic mitzvah—see Sefer HaMitzvos Rambam Shoresh Aleph and his commentaries): The order is also as follows: a) Itaruta d'Le'eila: (Sotah 14a) The Holy One, blessed be He, comforted mourners, etc. (And it is told and revealed to us this way because this gives a person strength; since strength has been given for this, therefore there is an obligation that) you too should comfort mourners. b) Itaruta d'L'tata: The act of comforting; and the wording is "HaMakom yenachem... among all other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem," which also includes preparation for the next Itaruta d'Le'eila that will follow. Just as He comforted mourners so too should we in our own arousal from below. c) Itaruta d'Le'eila: The Holy One will comfort the mourner and all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem through the rebuilding of Zion and Jerusalem and techiyas hameisim (resurrection). And even more than this: there will be d) an even higher Itaruta d'Le'eila than before—that G-d's consolation will be doubled (not just restoring what was lost), as it says "Nachamu Nachamu Ami" (Comfort, comfort My people—double comfort), for "the glory of this latter house shall be greater," referring to the future Temple according to Tzafnas Paneach on Chaggai 2:9; see also Sefer Am HaMekomot on Kiryat Arba s.v. Safek Nun Beis. Do not question that the simple meaning refers to the Second Temple; one can reconcile based on Midrash—as brought by Rashi on Yechezkel 43:11, cited in Tosefos Yom Tov's introduction to Maseches Middos—and also Berachos 4a—that really the third building should have occurred when they returned from Babylon but sin prevented it.

See also Likkutei Torah 'Sos Asis' s.v. Samech Gimel and 'LeHavin Inyan HaTa'am Lama SheHaItaruta d'Le'eila', sections five and six regarding double consolations and the third level of Itaruta d'Le'eila.

With blessings for immediate teshuvah and immediate redemption.

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

P.S. Please kindly inform me regarding all expenses involved in all of the above.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that comforting mourners follows a four-stage spiritual process mirroring arousal from Above and below, culminating in G-d's ultimate consolation with redemption—a lesson in both empathy toward others and hope for complete future comfort.