281 —הדפסת ספר השיחות, שכר על עשיית טוב לאחרים, ושני משלים

B"H, 13 Menachem Av 5707.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was in Europe for several months, and this is the reason why my writing has been delayed until now. Some time ago, the Sefer HaSichos of my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, was published—the book for which you took upon yourselves the cost of printing, as an elevation for the soul of your brother Reb Shlomo, of blessed memory.

Regarding the merit you attained by enabling the release of Sefer HaSichos and regarding the great elevation for the soul of the departed, I feel there is no need to elaborate. However, I would like to point out one advantage this has compared to many other mitzvos.

Our Sages say that the reward for most mitzvos is not in this world. The explanation is based on what the Alter Rebbe writes (Iggeres HaKodesh ch. 3), that the reward is too great for this world to contain. This applies to most mitzvos. However, there are mitzvos that involve doing good to other people here in this world. That is—they have both qualities: good towards Heaven and good towards people. Then, in addition to receiving reward in the World to Come like other mitzvos, one also receives—measure for measure—reward in this world as well.

By making possible the printing of Sefer HaSichos, you have made accessible to thousands a book containing Torah and good character traits—which will help a certain number of them find the right path and answers to their problems in this world. Therefore, this brings with it—not only principal reward in the World to Come—but also its fruits in this world: abundant material and spiritual good.

With blessings for immediate teshuvah and immediate redemption,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

The idea explained above can be understood through a parable: A great king who ruled over the entire world once left his palace and met a child named Yisrael. He said: I ask you to find suitable diamonds for my crown so that at my jubilee coronation my crown will be truly splendid and beautiful. Yisrael did so—he put aside his toys, found and brought precious stones. Experts polished them and set them into the crown; at the coronation, when the king wore it, everyone marveled at its beauty. The child's reward was decreed: when he grows up he will become chief minister over all ministers.

The next day Yisrael did not find his food at its usual time; he began to cry: I provided precious stones for the king—how can it be that today my food is delayed? But when he grew up he understood that his true reward was being made viceroy.

The lesson is clear.

Continuing from above—a parable about the second type of mitzvah: The king asked Yisrael personally to do him a favor—to feed his (the king's) children. Yisrael put aside all interests and fulfilled the king's request. Therefore his reward—in addition to fulfilling a request from King of kings—is also that Yisrael does not stand aside hungry while others receive their food through his efforts; rather he too sits at the table.

The lesson is again clear.

Summary

Supporting Torah works benefits both Heaven and people; such acts bring not only spiritual merit but also tangible blessings in this world. The Rebbe illustrates with parables how helping others brings unique rewards both materially and spiritually.