438 —חלוקת לימוד הש"ס, שותפות, וזכות ציבורית

B"H, 22 Teves, 5709.

Haraha"ch vaharaha"g vavac"h iy"a num etc. Mordechai Cohen

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Your letter from the 13th of Teves was recently received. The continuation of Yonati from 5640 was sent to you in a separate package. Enclosed here is a booklet for the 24th of Teves, a letter from my father-in-law the Rebbe shlita and a letter from Machane Yisrael. Since this is relevant to every soul, surely you will endeavor to publicize it appropriately.

Anyone among you who has spare funds or Maamad or Melach may give them to Reb D. Brauman and ask him to notify us immediately.

Regarding your writing about the division of Shas, I have been considering: Is it regarded as if each person has learned and completed the entire Shas during this year, or only that he learned his tractate? However, through dividing Shas in this way, in addition to learning one tractate, each person also acquires a share in the study of all of Shas.

This is not comparable to communal sacrifices (korbanot tzibur), where the essence of the matter occurs only with participation by the entire community. This can be connected with the concept of partnership: does each partner own all assets entirely or only a part in each detail?

I said hastily without proper analysis for now—that there is proof that it is considered as if each person has learned all of Shas because "the measure of good exceeds that of punishment," and we find a halachic ruling regarding Shabbat (Shabbat 93b) that when two people perform an act together which neither could do alone, both are liable and one measure suffices for all.* Even according to those who disagree—it can be said that Shabbat is different because there is an extra verse excluding cases as explained there.

Also in our case, it is as if each individual cannot do it alone: for those engaged in business—because they are commanded to conduct themselves with derech eretz; for those who dwell in tents (Torah scholars)—because they are obligated to study deeply, practically in halacha, and in inner Torah matters.

Signed on behalf of the whole group with blessings for peace,
M. Schneerson

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that when dividing Torah study among many people, each participant merits as if they studied all parts due to partnership and collective effort—highlighting how unity amplifies spiritual accomplishment beyond individual capacity.