448 —הערות על ספר ההיכל, מקורות לאמרות חז"ל, ונגישות

B"H, 16 Shevat, 5709.

To the honorable vavac"h iy"a nu"m tzna mali safra etc. Harav Chaim, known as Dr. Bloch.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter: As you requested, I checked with the person in charge of books for my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, and clarified that your Sefer HaHeichal was never received by the Rebbe at all. Some time after its publication, the librarian bought it for our library from Pardes publishers, and only this copy is in our possession.

On this occasion I will offer some comments regarding your book:

a) Even at first glance it is clear that you invested much effort in it, and it will bring great benefit. It is unfortunate that the price of the book prevents many people who need such works from using it.

b) There are several key books indexing sayings of our Sages scattered throughout Shas, Midrashim, and Zohar. Although some sayings and expressions are missing from these works, most have already been recorded in them. However, regarding medieval literature the situation is reversed: only a few sayings are listed within those indexes; I have not seen even one book worthy of being called an index to medieval sayings—even among those works that have become national treasures and are very well-known like Rashi's books, Baalei Tosafot, Rambam's writings, responsa of early authorities etc. You told or wrote to me long ago that you intended to fill this gap with your Heichal as well but apparently certain reasons prevented you from carrying out this plan. That is a pity.

c) Regarding sources for Chazal sayings discussed in the letter copied in your Heichal p. 611—which I searched in connection with my work publishing books of Chassidic leaders:

• Kol haRodef achar haKavod haKavod boreach mimenu (Whoever chases honor—honor flees from him) (Heiman 318)—also found in Boneh LeEin Yaakov Yoma 5b.
• HaMatchil b'Mitzvah omrim lo gmor (He who begins a mitzvah—they tell him to finish) (Heiman 232)—similarly in Tanchuma Eikev 6.
• Lama nikra shemo chazir etc.—several references in Heiman p. 370; also see my note to Hemshach Mayim Rabim—5636 p. 87.
• Kol haKo'es ke'ilu oved avodah zarah (Anyone who gets angry is as if he worships idols)—several references in Heiman p. 307; also add Zohar III 234b (and apparently also Responsa Rambam siman 369; so notes the publisher's comment to Sefer HaMitzvos by Rambam [ed. R' Chaim Heller NY] p. 67 on sources for this saying—so I have recorded though these books are not currently at hand).

• Devarim hayotzim min halev nichnasim el halev (Words that come from the heart enter the heart)—I have recorded: In Shirat Yisrael by R' Moshe Ibn Ezra p. 156 he writes: "It has already been said: words that come..."—but I do not currently have this book at hand.

With blessings,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
From a copy by the Secretariat.

Summary

The Rebbe highlights both praise for scholarly effort and concern for accessibility in Torah works while emphasizing thorough sourcing and pointing out gaps still present in Jewish scholarship—encouraging continued dedication to making Torah knowledge widely available.