1575 —תלמוד תורה, השתתפות בלוויות, ומשמעות עמוקה של מצוות

B"H, 24 Iyar, 5712.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vaharaha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z etc. Yitzchak Dubov

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Thank you for your letter from this past Erev Shabbat—which has just now been received—and especially for your involvement in matters of purity and funerals as you wrote in your letter, as well as what Rabbi Baruch Tzvi Shemtov, the shadar, wrote to me about this. May it be the will of Hashem that these efforts be used for joyful matters.

It can be explained with a touch of wit regarding our Sages' statement: 'We interrupt Torah study for escorting the dead and bringing in a bride' (Kesubos 17a). As is known, the ultimate purpose of wisdom is teshuvah and good deeds; at the giving of the Torah, the preface was 'Naaseh' before 'Nishma.' This means we interrupt Torah study for mitzvah matters whose general categories are escorting the dead—referring to the result of the primordial serpent who brought death even upon the choicest of humanity who had not sinned at all—and bringing in a bride—meaning drawing down holiness whose purpose is self-nullification and inclusion within G‑d's essence.

This also explains why even when a funeral procession passes before a bride, we say: 'We interrupt Torah study for bringing in a bride (and only afterward) for escorting the dead,' yet we mention escorting the dead first. This is because such is the order of service: first turning away from evil (sur meira), then doing good (asei tov); but when both come at once, a positive commandment overrides a prohibition.

I will conclude in line with my opening by expressing thanks from deep within my heart for your efforts—and also those of Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a etc. Yehuda Zev HaLevi Segal—in all that was mentioned above. May it be Hashem's will that we all merit to cleave to the living G‑d through Toras Chaim which we are all preparing to receive at the upcoming time of Matan Torah, according to the blessing formula of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal nishmaso Eden—may his merit shield us—with joy and inwardness.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that interrupting Torah study for mitzvos like funerals or weddings reflects their deep spiritual purpose: transforming negativity into holiness and preparing ourselves to receive Torah with joy and inner connection.