686 —קריאת פדיון באוהל ובריאת הזמן

B"H, 21 Menachem Av.

Hash-yit Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a etc. Mohari

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter from Erev Shabbat Parshat Va'etchanan along with what was enclosed for the Maamad of Beit Chayenu. Also enclosed is the receipt. I will read the pidyon, as you requested, in the chamber of my father-in-law, the Rebbe hk"m, where people enter to deliver pidyonot and for yechidut; I will also read it at an appropriate time at the Tziyun. Certainly our Nasi, my father-in-law the Rebbe hk"m, will give his blessing that everything should be in its proper time, properly and easily, and may Hash-yit fulfill your blessings fully in both material and spiritual matters. Surely you will inform me of good news.

With blessing,
Menachem Schneerson

Regarding what you asked previously about how it is possible for there to be infinite worlds—and I answered that this is due to the power of Ein Sof within them, for whom nothing is impossible—you now ask: if so, doesn’t this undermine the proof that time was created? For in Derech Mitzvotecha it is shown that it is impossible for countless finite divisions to become infinite without limit; so why not say regarding time as well that this results from the power of Ein Sof within it? How then do we know that time was created?

The general answer here (and in similar cases) is: It is true that one could always claim that in any matter where Ein Sof’s power is revealed—since He can do anything—it would not fall under any law or rational proof. However, Torah states that the world was created in a way consistent with rational law—as proven by the fact that all Torah laws require truth and rational proof—except for those matters explicitly stated to be beyond reason. Therefore, regarding worlds about which our Sages said in several places they are without number, we must say this is due to Ein Sof’s power within them. But with other matters where this is not explicitly stated—especially when seeking to prove rationally that time was created—we are permitted to accept rational proof.

In any case: If from faith alone there is no need for proof that time was created; but if one wishes to prove it intellectually, we bring evidence that reason also supports this. There is much more to elaborate on this topic, but certainly even this brief explanation will suffice.

I would like to know what has transpired with Mr... and thank you very much for informing me.

Summary

The Rebbe explains that while G‑d’s infinite power can override natural law when explicitly stated by Torah or our Sages, generally creation follows rational principles—so reasoned proofs about creation (like time being created) are valid unless Torah says otherwise.