4984 —הפצת תורה וחסידות באמצעות השפעה

B"H, 29 Kislev, 5717.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z ish rav pe'alim Moshe Zev Yaroslavski

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter from the 18th of Kislev with the enclosed pan to be read at an auspicious time at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzukal l'havdil ben chayim mezakeh zichro yagen aleinu. Certainly you have already returned home in peace and made use of your visit to strengthen and spread Judaism even in those places. This includes matters of the inner dimension of Torah—that is, Toras HaChassidus, its guidance and conduct. There is a special advantage in such places where one meets people from various locations: when you influence them for the good in a fundamental way, this change reaches those places to which these people return.

Especially during the days of the month of Kislev—including Yud Tes Kislev and the days of Chanukah—such influence is particularly effective. May it be G‑d's will that you engage in this according to the lesson of these days of Chanukah: one must continually increase in light coming from pure oil until it shines at the entrance to one's house outward as long as the sun has set. As our Sages say: "ad d'khalei rigla d'Tarmodai" (until the feet of the Tarmodians are gone) (Shabbos 21b). The hint is brought that this relies on what is told in Shas about Bnei Tarmod (Yevamos 17a; Bereishis Rabbah section 56): Tarmod has the same letters as 'moredes' (rebellious), and it is within the power of a Jewish person to completely remove this spirit through spreading the light of Torah and its luminary—that is, the inner dimension of Torah.

With blessings for success in all the above.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that influencing others with Torah and Chassidus—especially during Kislev and Chanukah—can have far-reaching effects, as those impacted bring this light back to their own communities. Increasing spiritual light dispels negativity everywhere.