4155 —דיון עם הרב זוין על טהרה על ידי באר וחוקי נדה

B"H, 11 Adar, 5716.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z tznm"s etc. Moharshi Shlomo Yosef Zevin

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the first of the month when we increase in joy, and your previous one: Regarding what was recorded in the notes from the Yud-Tes Kislev 5715 talk, that in Tosafos Bechoros it is ruled that only flowing water from a spring purifies—this is as you wrote, that my intent was to Tosafos Bechoros 55b, where two opinions are seen (unlike Tosafos Shabbos 65b which simply brings RY's view). You are also correct in writing that my statement about Baal HaGaon’s ruling referred to what he wrote: "Where the river is dammed, immersion does not count."

Regarding your citation of HaAmek She'elah on Sheiltos siman 96 letter 13, which explains that the reason immersion does not count is because there are not forty se'ah: In my humble opinion, this is not even hinted at in Baal HaGaon’s words. If Baal HaGaon's statement referred to a specific river, perhaps with great difficulty it could be interpreted this way if it was known to be a small river. But his words are a general ruling, and it is clear that a general ruling cannot omit such an essential point.

Incidentally, I recall seeing in some book this ruling cited in Baal HaGaon's name but do not remember at this moment which book. I did find in Sefer Mikveh Taharah that it says Sefer Gedolei Taharah discusses this matter, but I do not have it at hand.

Regarding what you quoted from the above-mentioned talk about whether one witness is believed regarding prohibitions or impurity: It seems there is an error in this note because the discussion was that if Niddah is a matter of impurity then one could not learn from there that one witness is believed for prohibitions—since we do not derive prohibitions from impurity. See Etvan D’Oraita by Rabbi Yosef Engel klal 21 and Yad Malachi regarding not deriving prohibitions from impurity.

What was recently published by Kehot has already been sent to you; as I recall it was included in the package: additions from tzt"z on Bava Metzia tractate, two issues of Kovetz Lubavitch, and more...

Blessings for a joyous Purim and to continue this joy throughout the year.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies complex halachic points about purification via wells and rivers and addresses distinctions between laws of ritual purity and prohibitions. He emphasizes careful analysis of sources and encourages continued joy during Purim and beyond.