4848 —כוונת "כו'" ו"גו'" בספר התניא, ותר"ך עמודי אור

B"H, 18 Marcheshvan, 5717

Brooklyn.

The young man Moshe Aharon, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In answer to your letter of Tuesday of [the week of] Lech [Lecha]^[1] and the one before it...

b) As to what you raise about several places in the holy book of Tanya where it says "etc." (כו') or "etc." (גו'), [writing that] it requires study what was intended by these words.

In general, in such a case it is understood and plain that the "etc." (כו' or גו') must relate to the words right before it and to that subject, and not to matters that came still earlier; it is likewise understood and plain that they must indicate either the conclusion of a verse or saying, or (regarding the word כו') the conclusion of a subject — but not a hint to a new matter, or one belonging to a subject discussed elsewhere and not in that place.

c) As to what you write about the number of the 620 pillars of light, that perhaps it means 613 pillars of light, etc.

The matter of the 620 — keser — pillars of light^[2] is well known in the books of Kabbalah, in the prayer of Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKanah that is well known in those books, and elsewhere; and there is no room at all for a number of 613 pillars of light.

With blessing.

Publisher's notes

The young man Moshe Aharon, may he live: Friluk, Bnei Brak.

Notes

[1] Tuesday of Lech (ג' לך): Tuesday of the week of Parshas Lech Lecha.

[2] 620 — keser (תר"ך - כת"ר): the number 620 has the numerical value of the word כתר, keser ("crown"); that is why it is the number found in the books of Kabbalah for the pillars of light, and not 613.