381 —שלשה שאמרו אמת, מנין ימי השבוע, וערך השליחות

B"H, 19 Tammuz 5708.

Vavavch iy"a nu"m etc. Meir Sh Shaub.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Your son-in-law, vavavch etc. Harari Y Goodman, gave me your questions. In response to them: A) The source for the saying of our Sages brought by the Ramban on Bereishis 2:9 — 'Three spoke truth and were lost from the world; these are the snake, the spies, and Doeg HaAdomi.' Apparently its source is in Midrash Pirkei Rabbeinu HaKadosh, Chapter Three, section 47. However, the version in Ramban differs from ours; in the edition I saw (at the end of Kolbo; in Otzar HaMidrashim by Eisenstein), it reads: 'Three who spoke truth and were lost from this world and the next: these are the spies, Doeg, and Bnei Rimon HaBe'erot.' Note: a) This teaching is also brought by Admor HaZaken in his letter from Parshas Nitzavim 5611 (printed in Beis Rabbi ch. 20), but it's impossible to clarify his version since he only lists what pertains to his topic — Doeg. b) One should not question this teaching based on what is written in Bereishis Rabbah ch. 19 that the snake lied — both are true: he was banished from the world because he spoke truth, but to convince Chava he also said falsehoods; see also Torah Or and Toras Chaim on 'VeHanachash Hayah Arum.'

B) You asked why many letters do not mention the day of the week but only 'the day of the month,' even though according to Ramban (Shemos 20:8), Israel counts all days as related to Shabbos — 'first day of Shabbos,' 'second day of Shabbos,' etc., since it is a mitzvah to remember it daily. To me this is not difficult: a) Even according to Ramban it is clear that this is not a mitzvah that applies all day like Torah study; mentioning it once suffices — as we say in Shir Shel Yom: 'Today is day one,' etc. b) In my opinion it is clear that Ramban does not require us to always count days as related to Shabbos; rather, if one happens to count days of the week, he should do so with reference to Shabbos — like other mitzvos such as building a fence around a roof. When Ramban says 'always,' he means not just on Shabbos or Erev Shabbos alone. This also explains why counts in Tanach are not by weekdays (see Rosh Hashanah 3a). c) It seems that even ideally we do not follow Ramban's view strictly; after all, he forbids counting weekdays otherwise than with reference to Shabbos, yet I have never seen anyone careful about saying or writing Sunday, Monday, etc.

Currently staying at our camp are the esteemed shluchim avrechim iy"a etc., Harari A Mishtilim and Harari N Gurarye. Surely they have told you about talks from my father-in-law, Admor shlita, regarding the great value and necessity of these trips. Without doubt you will assist them despite your busyness and strive so that their visit brings full benefit in every detail — my writing is only for extra encouragement.

Signed with blessings for all good things forever,
Rabbi Menachem Schneersohn

I have again found our Sages' saying about three who spoke truth in Macho"v (Machzor Vitri), in a manuscript fragment printed at the end of Menorat HaMaor by R.Y. Alnakawa (vol. IV p.568): 'Three who admitted truth and passed from this world and the next — these are Doeg HaAdomi, Bnei Rimon HaBe'eroti, and the spies; Rabbi Meir says also Ben Ish Gamliel Amaleki.' The notes there cite Avos D'Rabbi Natan version B ch.45; Pirkei Rebbe Kadosh ed. Schenblum (in Sefer Gimel Sefarim) 27a; Akedat HaAgadot ed. Horowitz sec.133.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies sources for classic teachings about those who spoke truth yet suffered loss, explains practical halacha regarding counting weekdays for Shabbos remembrance per Ramban versus common custom, and urges active support for shluchim's work.