1425 —לימוד חסידות בסעודה שלישית, שלום בית ויסודות התורה

B"H, 18 Shevat, 5712.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n engaged in tzt"z negotiations in faith etc. Moreinu HaRav Yaakov Katz

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Enclosed is my response to the pidyon nefesh which I received from you for Mrs... may she live. And certainly, if necessary, you will find the appropriate words to explain it to her.

I was pleased to read in your letter that at Seudah Shlishit you learned the maamar from 13 Shevat. I hope that not only—as the tzt"z said to Reb Hillel—that the souls hear, but also that you have already found a way so that the soul as it is connected with the body will also fulfill this, and if not entirely then gradually; just as it says in Chumash: Me'at me'at agarsheinu mipanecha ("Little by little I will drive them out before you").

In your letter you mention the shalom bayis of Mr... and his wife may they live. One should explain to the father what I wrote him when there was still talk about this shidduch: that they must establish their home on proper Torah foundations. This affects not only spiritual happiness but also physical happiness. Whether one understands this or not makes little difference—just as when one follows a great professor's instructions one benefits even without knowing the reason why; all the more so when this is a directive from the Creator of the world Who is also Healer of all flesh.

Of course, when I am at the resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal nishmaso Eden, I will mention Mr... and his wife for shalom bayis. But one must not forget the main point: that for them there must be "shalom bayis" between soul and body—and this makes achieving shalom bayis in their home incomparably easier.

And since this Shabbat is Parshat Yitro—the Shabbat where we read about Kabbalat HaTorah—you will surely take advantage in your shul of what is told in Kuntres Chai Elul 5703 p. 36: that at Kabbalat HaTorah Hashem led all sixty myriads of Jews (excluding elders etc.) into a room and taught them "kamatz alef—A," which is the first letter of Anochi ("I am"); see there at length.

With wishes for a good Shabbat.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that learning Chassidus brings spiritual fulfillment into daily life and strengthens both personal growth and harmony at home. Building one's home on Torah foundations ensures true happiness—spiritual and physical—even beyond our understanding.