601 —המשמעות הרוחנית של ל"ג בעומר ותפקיד החסידות בגאולה

B"H, Pesach Sheni, 5710.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"m etc. Mehor"y.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Enclosed is the kuntres for the upcoming Lag BaOmer, and "one with a good eye will be blessed," for you will merit to benefit the many with it.

Chassidic teachings explain the concept of Lag BaOmer, which is the counting of Hod shebeHod. This represents the separation and partition—the gal—that exists between Atzilus and Beriah-Yetzirah-Asiyah (BY"A), as well as between above Atzilus and Atzilus itself. Each of these two partitions prevents one of two types of external forces from drawing sustenance: (a) from an abundance of contractions, (b) from the supreme encompassing light, where lower actions have no effect and all can receive. Therefore, on Lag BaOmer, Rabbi Akiva's students stopped dying because this partition before their accuser was removed. All this applies in our current era.

However, in the days of Mashiach—when "I will remove the spirit of impurity from the earth," as our Sages said (Koheles Rabbah 1:4), "I have wounded and I will heal; a partition I made between those above and those below—those above live and endure while those below die—in the future I will heal this partition," for then this gal-partition will not be needed at all. Rashbi, who is the source for revealing Torah secrets, clarified this partition (and its main revelation will be in the future), for Rashbi illuminated with a more complete light—the light of Mashiach. See all this in Siddur Shaar HaLag BaOmer on "Ad HaGal" and its explanation; also see "Chayav Adam Levarech," 5638 (1878), p. 125 onward.

The way out of exile and entry into Mashiach's era has already been revealed by our Sages: because Israel is destined to taste from the Tree of Life—which is this Sefer HaZohar—they will go out with it from exile mercifully. And Mashiach answered our master, the Baal Shem Tov, that when your wellsprings spread outward—then he will come. My revered father-in-law, the previous Rebbe hk"m, explained at length that the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov are indeed the vessels for Mashiach's light. The teachings of our master, the Baal Shem Tov, and pure service in refining one's character traits will ultimately spread so that all recognize this truth—even those who are outside; then even those whose ancestors had self-sacrifice will be awakened by it. See all this in Zohar III 124b; Iggeres HaKodesh of Baal Shem Tov regarding his soul's ascent in 5507 (1747); Simchas Torah talk 5690 (1930).

We must all know clearly that every action and effort to spread these wellsprings outward illuminates exile's darkness and brings closer Mashiach's coming and revelation. Words cannot describe how difficult even one extra moment in exile is—and how precious even one added moment in Mashiach's revelation is.

And with Mashiach's revelation speedily now—when G‑d will heal the partition between above and below as mentioned—and "those who dwell in dust shall awaken and sing," my revered father-in-law hk"m—who showed us the path we ascend—will come at our head: at the head of all his students, chassidim, those bound to him, to bring us out from distress into G‑d's wide expanse with true and complete redemption.

With blessing for peace and all good things,
M. Schneerson

Summary

This letter teaches that understanding Lag BaOmer’s mystical meaning inspires us to spread Chassidus outward—illuminating exile’s darkness and hastening redemption through personal refinement and sharing Torah’s inner dimension.