3866 —הבאת פנים חדשות להתוועדויות

B"H, 9 MarCheshvan, 5716.

Brooklyn.

The Rav and Chassid, the distinguished Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal affairs, etc., Reb Moshe Pinchas HaKohen [Katz]

Greetings and blessing!

In reply to your letter — your report of the farbrengen of Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Noach:

Although on the whole I was pleased with the above, and may the strength be increased of all the organizers, those who worked on it and those who took part, they and their households — may they all be blessed,

nevertheless it is a wonder and a great astonishment about a number of Anash, who pay no attention to the well-known saying and promise, "לכשיפוצו מעינותיך חוצה" ("When your wellsprings will be disseminated outward" — Mishlei 5:16; the Baal Shem Tov's letter). And what is dissemination? When new faces are seen at the Chabad farbrengens and gatherings. And apparently, from the results, for the time being nothing at all is being done in this direction. Until when?

It is plain that I do not intend to cry out over the past, but to arouse with regard to the future — to the coming farbrengens of Melaveh Malkah, may they come upon us for good, of Shabbos Mevarchim, etc.

And according to the well-known saying of the Chassid and tzaddik, etc., etc., Reb Hillel of Paritch, that in all his deeds his intention was that through them there be an increase with regard to Chassidus, etc.

To his honor and his colleagues, and to each one of Anash who begins and continues to arrange farbrengens

and the like, we say: continue and add, specifically.

And then we will merit the "completion" (הגמר) — speedily in our days, with the coming of our righteous Moshiach — when the promise will be fulfilled,

"ומלאה הארץ דעה את הוי'" ("The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of G‑d" — Yeshayahu 11:9), etc.

And the vessels of service sanctify when full (or at least when one intends to fill them); and if it overflows, it is still called "full" (Menachos 88a),

with holiness that comes from the vessels, and complete holiness — in addition to the holiness of the lights in their own right,

which is precisely the purpose and perfection of creation, as explained in many places in Chassidus.

With blessing for good news in the above.

Publisher's notes

Printed in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 20, p. 610, and completed from the secretariat's copy.

Reb Moshe Pinchas (מו"ה משה פנחס): Katz. Further letters to him: above, vol. 11, 3746, and the references in the notes there.

And the vessels of service (וכלי שרת): Bamidbar Rabbah 13:14: "The bowl corresponds to the sea, the basin to the dry land; both of them full, etc."

Full — they sanctify (מלאים - מקדשין): Zevachim 88a.

He intends to fill them (דעתו למלאותן): Menachos 8a.

And if it overflows, etc. (ויותיר כו'): Menachos 88a.

Holiness from the vessels (שמצד הכלים): Tosefta, Taharos 1:4.

Complete holiness (קדושה שלימה): based on Rambam, Hilchos Pesulei HaMukdashin 3:20.

The saying (פתגם): see also below, letters 3928, 3973, 4079.