4865 —חזרת מאמר חסידות בסעודה שלישית בעידנא דרעוא דרעוין, והמשכת ברכת השבת לכל ימי השבוע

B"H, 24 Marcheshvan, 5717

Brooklyn.

The veteran Chassid, G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, etc., our teacher Rabbi Avraham Yehuda Leib, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter of 20 Marcheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab^[1] — and on a birthday one's mazal is dominant, as is known^[2].

And to read in it about the strengthening of the shiur in Chassidus and the addition — that a maamar will be reviewed at the time of seudah shlishis, at the hour of the favor of favors^[3], which is also a time of favor "to behold the radiance of Zeir Anpin," when they fulfil the invitation "Come close to me, see my strength"^[4]. Fortunate is the portion of all who take part, and even more so of those who make the effort in such matters, for "in the light of the King's countenance is life" (Mishlei 16:15). And the Creator and Guide of the world will surely keep His promise, at this hour, "to annul all the kelipos… and there is no anger"^[5]. And since from Shabbos all the days are blessed^[6], this is drawn into the entire week, since from Shabbos it is drawn down below in revealed form.

With blessing.

Publisher's notes

Rabbi Avraham Yehuda Leib: Klein, Jerusalem.

Notes

[1] The Rebbe Rashab (כ"ק אדמו"ר מהורש"ב): Rabbi Shalom DovBer, the fifth Rebbe of Chabad, born on 20 Marcheshvan 5621.

[2] On a birthday one's mazal is dominant (ביום הולדת המזל גובר): from the Jerusalem Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 3:8), "his mazal is dominant." All the more so on the birthday of a tzaddik, which gives special significance to writing on that day.

[3] The hour of the favor of favors (עידנא דרעווא דרעווין): per the Zohar (II, 88b), the time of Minchah on Shabbos is the loftiest time of Divine favor.

[4] "Come close to me, see my strength" (קריבו לי חזו חילי): from the Arizal's hymn for seudah shlishis, "Bnei Heichala": בני היכלא דכסיפין למחזי זיו דזעיר אנפין… קריבו לי חזו חילי, "Members of the palace, who yearn to behold the radiance of Zeir Anpin… come close to me, see my strength."

[5] "To annul all the kelipos… and there is no anger" (לבטלא בכל קליפין… ולית זעפין): also from "Bnei Heichala": at this time of favor all the kelipos are annulled and there is no anger or judgment.

[6] From Shabbos all the days are blessed (שבת מני' מתברכין כולי יומי): from the Zohar (II, 63b; 88a): all six weekdays are blessed from Shabbos.

Summary

This letter, answering one written on 20 Cheshvan, the Rebbe Rashab's birthday, welcomes the strengthening of the Chassidus shiur and the new practice of reviewing a maamar at seudah shlishis, the hour of supreme favor. Since all the days of the week are blessed from Shabbos, its effect is drawn into the whole week.