3258 —סיום הש"ס וחשיבות ההתחלה מחדש

B"H, 9 Shevat, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"m etc. David Meir Shulman

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter from the 4th of Shevat, in which you share the good news of completing the Talmud. Surely, as is the Jewish custom, you immediately began studying it again, for Torah—Torah and the Holy One Blessed be He are entirely one—is infinite, and its end is bound to its beginning and its beginning to its end.

This custom is further sweetened by what is written: 'Torat Hashem Temimah' (the Torah of Hashem is perfect), and as the Baal Shem Tov of blessed memory said, it is perfect because no one has ever truly begun it and it is complete (see Me'or Einayim to Avot s.v. Me'od Me'od). Therefore, immediately after finishing, one begins anew, because through completing study one gains a deeper recognition that it is necessary to start again.

This relates to the well-known saying: 'Tachlit HaYediah SheLo Neida'cha' (the ultimate knowledge is that we do not know You; see Shelah on Masechet Shevuot 191b, which also applies to Torah). The more one increases in learning and knowledge, the more one realizes how much remains unknown.

It can also be said that this is hinted at in the conclusion of Shas: 'Kol HaShoneh Halachot...' (whoever studies halachot...), specifically halachot which are called a tag and a crown (see Iggeret HaKodesh by our Rebbe the Alter Rebbe section 29), for a crown surrounds the head. Similarly with Torah—even though it says 'Your Torah is within my innards,' meaning it enters one's inner being and becomes part of one's flesh and blood (Tanya ch. 5)—nevertheless, together with this, it remains hidden from every living being and only with Him—'I will be His delight.' However, since Jewish souls are literally a part of G‑d above—as emphasized by our Rebbe the Alter Rebbe—they have the ability to study Torah.

To bring this ability from potential into actuality comes through Jews revealing their essence as a literal part of G‑d above. This happens when they recite Shema: 'Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu—our strength and our life.'

The donation from your son-in-law and his wife—their daughter—was given to Kuppat Shen"D ^[2], and may Hashem grant them success so that they receive from them and all their children abundant true nachas—Chassidic nachas.

With blessing.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that completing Torah study leads naturally to beginning anew because Torah’s infinity means there’s always more depth to uncover. This cycle brings ever-deepening awareness of G‑dliness and connects us continually with our Divine source.