241 —ברכות לחתונת בן ותובנות על צמיחה רוחנית

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your message about your son's wedding, I wish to express my heartfelt Mazal Tov blessings. May they build a home in Israel founded on Torah and mitzvah.

It can be said that when the soul descends into this world, which is likened to a day of celebration, there are two aspects: (a) rectifying the body and animal soul and one's portion in the world (as explained in Tanya chapter 37); (b) an elevation in the soul itself through its descent and work within the body.

When one has already refined his portion in the world through his service, our Sages said (Yevamot 63a): "A person brings wheat... but needs help—this is a wife." This is also reflected in the universal order outlined in Pirkei Avot (end of chapter 5): at five years old for Scripture, at ten for Mishnah, at fifteen for Talmud, and only afterwards at eighteen for marriage. In this way, when one reaches the age of pursuing worldly matters—which is considered a great distraction according to Shulchan Aruch HaRav—at age twenty he has already fulfilled "adorn yourself first," reaching complete perfection. As explained in Likkutei Torah on "at twenty to sell," he will have also completed studying Talmud, which takes five years as stated in Hilchot Talmud Torah by the Alter Rebbe chapter 3. The statement there about "two or three years" can be understood as referring to different cases and according to both interpretations regarding whether eighteen means full eighteen years (Tosafot Ketubot 50a) or beginning of eighteen (Rambam Hilchot Ishut ch.15 halacha 2; see also Tur/Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer sec.1 para.3 and commentaries).

The fact that even before this our Sages said "at thirteen for mitzvot" can be explained as marking the beginning of service relevant only to his body and animal soul without connection yet to his portion in the world—"little by little I will drive them out..." But since this is not the main aspect of mitzvot, it is not called an optimal fulfillment. This clarifies why Shulchan Aruch says: "one who marries at thirteen fulfills an optimal mitzvah," and according to Rashi even a year earlier qualifies since he is then considered nearly an adult whose vows are valid by Torah law.

Through this service there is also an elevation within the soul itself—an incomparable ascent from memale kol almin (filling all worlds) to sovev kol almin (encompassing all worlds). The preparation for this was described by Yeshayahu—as is known that everything recounted in Tanach or by our Sages teaches us lessons in serving G-d—in his vision of the chariot: "And I saw Ad-nai... seraphim stood above Him." The Alter Rebbe explains (Likkutei Torah on V'Nikdashti p.65) that their main yearning was to attain sovev kol almin, which transcends even Ad-nai—the Master over all that fills all worlds—so it is as if they stand there.

This yearning and service must not be only with love or only with awe but with integration and unification of all attributes together—as explained regarding Rivkah's threefold or fourfold qualities (Torah Or Parshat Toldot on Mayim Rabim p.63). Through such service specifically in this world, Jews ascend actually into sovev kol almin—higher even than seraphim—as our Sages say (Chullin 91b), reaching Ein Sof itself.

This is why specifically this world is likened to a day of celebration: just as through marriage there emerges afterwards the power of procreation—which exists among souls but not angels—so too it parallels the aspect of Ein Sof's power (see Likkutei Torah end of commentary on "Sixty are they queens").

With Mazal Tov blessings—for immediate repentance and immediate redemption—from my own hand-writing (for the secretary to type), without date; it is "the attached letter" mentioned in the previous letter. Also, in his response he writes: "Your letter from 20 Tammuz, replying to my invitation for my son's wedding along with new insights in Torah."

Summary

The Rebbe connects life's milestones—especially marriage—to spiritual growth and fulfillment of one's mission. He teaches that each stage prepares us for higher divine service, culminating in unique elevations possible only through action within this world.