2785 —חסידות על דעות הלכתיות שונות וחשיבותן

B"H, 4th of Tammuz, 5714.

Brooklyn.

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

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter, in which you raise a point about what is written in Likkutei Torah on Parshas Shelach (42b): "For a niddah and a zavah, their purification is with living water." You ask for the source, since the opinion of early and later halachic authorities is that a niddah does not require living water.

It is understood that Likkutei Torah is not a book of halachic rulings. It is also understood that according to the inner dimension of Torah (sod), it is necessary to explain not only the opinion that we rule like in practice, but also other opinions—since "these and those are the words of the living G‑d." See for example: Likkutei Torah Nitzavim 45a: the shofar of Rosh Hashanah should be from a simple ibex. And obviously there is no difficulty from Derech Mitzvosecha at the end of Positive Commandments regarding discussing these matters in theoretical debate.

As for the statement that a niddah's purification is with living water—this is indeed the view of the Taz at the end (end of Tohorah): "like a niddah... to purify her with Torah water—living water that does not cease."

Incidentally: regarding what you referenced in Sefer Taharas Mayim (page 46) about opinions holding that a zavah requires living water, one should add Rabbi Nachshon (see Otzar HaGeonim on Shabbos 64) and Zohar III 297b (in addition to the Taz, which follows even more so from niddah). In Shut Shem Mishimon by R. Shimon Pollak—first edition Yoreh De'ah siman 19—he notes from the above Taz that he holds a zavah requires living water (even more so than niddah), and it is surprising he did not also cite from Zohar III above.

Perhaps it can be said that in Zohar III, as explained by the Ramak (quoted in Or HaChamah there), it says living water is needed because she counts seven weeks instead of seven days—which does not apply to an ordinary zavah. But regarding the Taz, this cannot be said.

With honor and blessing.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that Chasidus explores all halachic opinions—even those not followed practically—to reveal their spiritual meaning. This approach deepens our understanding of Torah beyond legal rulings alone.