5034 —ניצול ההתעוררות הכללית והפצת לימוד תניא

B"H, 14 Tevet, 5717.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z Yonah Eidelkopf

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter from the 8th of Tevet, in addition to the reports from others about your activities—especially your efforts to utilize the general awakening among the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael towards their Father in Heaven, His Torah and mitzvot. Certainly you will not be satisfied with this alone but will increase your efforts as much as possible, for this is what the times demand and extraordinary success is being bestowed from Above (unfortunately, our community is not fully utilizing this). It seems that anyone who acts and any action taken succeeds in ways previously unimaginable. Perhaps you will also succeed in inspiring our community so that they too will finally begin such activities—not just holding meetings for discussion and resolutions, but actually implementing them. I am confident that then they too will succeed in ways previously unimaginable.

At an auspicious time I will mention all those you wrote about at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal, according to the content of your letter.

Regarding what you wrote about speaking with Ploni ben Ploni concerning studying Tanya, and he responded that "this is an old dispute," it is surprising that no one has explained to him that those who opposed it two hundred years ago did so openly because they feared it would diminish matters of awe of Heaven, etc. However, since then—especially in our generation—it is clearly seen that on the contrary: it increases and strengthens awe of Heaven and meticulous mitzvah observance. They saw this clearly in their own country previously and now see it clearly as well in Eretz Yisrael; this is obvious.

May it be G‑d's will that you ultimately succeed everywhere according to each place's circumstances: with Ploni ben Ploni not opposing; with Ploni ben Ploni even assisting; and with Ploni ben Ploni himself beginning to study. It is already well known and publicized—the ruling of the Heavenly Court (quoted at the end of page 122 in Sefer Kitzuim v'He'arot l'Tanya)—that because of this self-sacrifice of Rabbeinu HaZaken for Torat HaChassidut, it was decreed Above that in every matter of Torah, awe of Heaven, and good character traits, his followers and those who walk in his path will prevail.

Summary

The Rebbe urges us to seize moments of communal inspiration for increased Torah activity—especially spreading Tanya study—and assures us that these efforts bring great success both personally and communally. Proven results show Tanya strengthens awe of Heaven and mitzvah observance.