2274 —שחיטה כשרה והרמת הנפש הבהמית

B"H, 25 Menachem Av 5714. Brooklyn.

Harav vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Avraham Alter Kalifan

Shalom u'Vrachah!

It was pleasant to receive regards from you through Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n, one involved in tzt"z, Moreinu HaRav Menachem Zev HaLevi Greenglass, and when I am at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal, I will mention you as you requested in your letter.

Surely you are aware of what is brought in several places in Chassidus based on our Sages: "Ein veshachat ela umashach" (there is no 'and he slaughtered' except 'and he drew'), that just as physically, through kosher shechitah one draws the animal or bird from its state so it becomes fit to be blood and flesh like human flesh, so too spiritually: one must draw his body and animal soul so they become fit to be transformed into the G‑dly soul—the human soul called so because "adameh laElyon" (I resemble the Supreme), as explained in Sefer Asarah Maamarot Chelek Im Kol Chai II:33, Shlah p. 301b, and many other places—through kosher shechitah. This means if the vitality of the animal soul is strong, both simanim (windpipe and esophagus) must be slaughtered—regarding desires for eating and drinking (Berachos 32a) and regarding absorbing the environment's air (Tanya ch. 26), i.e., kaneh and veshet; if its vitality is less, then at least one siman should be slaughtered—the one where he is more invested. And be careful with the veins (to remove blood and enthusiasm for animal matters), like Rabbi Yehudah (so called because "odeh es Havayah," I will thank Hashem)—thankfulness even if not yet understood. May Hashem grant you success to accomplish this within yourself and your surroundings now with proper health and expanded mind.

With blessing.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that just as kosher shechitah refines an animal physically, spiritually we must refine our animal soul through self-discipline and gratitude, transforming it into a vessel for G‑dliness within ourselves and our environment.