291 —קבלת ספרים, תמיכה כספית, ומשמעות ח"י אלול

B"H, 27 Elul, 5707.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With joy and much thanks I can inform you that the sefarim To'ar HaShemos, Shaarei HaTeshuvah and Derech Chaim have been received. Today we also received one thousand one hundred forty-three [currency], from which we are passing on your share to the maamad (fund), as per your letter to Reb Dov Ber Haaskind. Certainly you will do all you can to add to the above sum both regarding maamad and Melach (another fund), for the necessity in all this cannot be overstated.

The great merit you have in bringing about the above cannot be described in words. I am writing only to inform you that your merit was realized at an auspicious time: the sefarim were received and delivered into the hands of my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, during the days of Yud-Gimmel–Chai Elul (the fiftieth anniversary of my father-in-law's wedding—may he live long and well).

Enclosed is a maamar given today by my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita; surely you will confirm its receipt.

I will conclude with what I wrote to someone else on a matter relevant to these days: My father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, said at the farbrengen on Chai Elul that "Chai Elul," as explained by early chassidim, means "Chai Elul gives life to the service of Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li" (the acronym for Elul). This can be explained: Both those who are alive and those who are not have all 248 limbs; but what distinguishes life is that it has a soul—thus the body grows from smallness to greatness and moves from place to place.

Our Sages said (Tanya ch. 38) that intent in mitzvos—to cleave to Him—is like a soul for the body of mitzvos. This is achieved by arousing or revealing within oneself love and awe of Hashem; this comes through learning Penimius HaTorah in general and Chassidus in particular, as explained elsewhere. Through this intent—to cleave to Him—one achieves true growth and movement; this is real movement: when a limited creation cleaves to the unlimited Creator. As it says: "Ve'atem ha'dveikim ba'Hashem Elokeichem chayim..." (And you who cleave to Hashem your G-d are alive...).

This is the meaning of the saying that Chai Elul—the birthday and revelation of the Baal Shem Tov and his teachings, as well as the birth of Admor HaZaken—gives vitality to serving with Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li; that creations cleave to their Creator.

In deeper terms: Even in a limb that is not alive there is flesh, sinews, and bones. In spiritual service these correspond to mind-work (bones), heart-work (flesh), and their connection (sinews), as explained in Likkutei Torah Pinchas D"H Tzav... Korbani Lachmi Hasheni. Yet none of these constitute true life—that comes only through preceding service with kabbolas ol (accepting Hashem's yoke), especially kabbolas ol on Rosh Hashanah.

See also in this year's Rosh Hashanah maamar regarding individual vitality, general vitality, giving life, and essential life.

Summary

The Rebbe writes about supporting communal needs generously while highlighting how Chai Elul brings true spiritual vitality—through learning Chassidus with inner intent—to our Torah study and mitzvah observance. Real growth comes from connecting one's soul with Hashem through heartfelt service.