3863 —אין להגביל זמן לימוד החסידות

B"H, 8 MarCheshvan, 5716.

Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessing!

In reply to your letter of the end of Tishrei, in which you write of the ways in which you could continue studying Chassidus and conducting yourself by its guidance and customs: namely, that it not be so widely known, and likewise that you not be required to study an hour or two in books of Chassidus every day.

Now, as to the first matter, you must decide it yourself: that is, estimate in which way you will advance more in fear of Heaven and in Chassidus, and conduct yourself in that way. But as to the second matter, limiting the time of your study of "דברי אלקים חיים" ("the words of the living G‑d" — Yirmiyahu 23:36), the inner dimension of the Torah: although it is understood that whatever you learn is better than not learning at all, the very approach to G‑d's Torah of limiting oneself not to learn very much in some part of our holy Torah is, G‑d forbid, the opposite of honoring the Torah. And although it is not necessary that each and every one study several hours a day specifically in books of Chassidus — as in the well-known saying of our Sages concerning the Torah as a whole, that those who are constrained fulfill their obligation with "פרק אחד שחרית ופרק אחד ערבית" ("one chapter in the morning and one chapter in the evening" — Menachos 99b) — they too must know that this is only because of constraint: by Divine Providence they have not yet merited to have more free time to occupy themselves with His wisdom, may He be blessed. But to say, G‑d forbid, that this is their wish and their set order, etc. — to elaborate on so simple a matter is surely superfluous. And it is already known what is explained in Kuntres Etz HaChaim by the Rebbe (Rashab), of blessed memory: that in our times the main battle of the evil inclination is against the study of the inner dimension of the Torah (which has been revealed in these days of ours in the teachings of Chassidus)...

With blessing for good news in all the above.