ב"ה, י"ד אייר, תשי"ז
ברוקלין.
הרה"ח אי"א נו"נ ענף עץ אבות בעל מדות
כו' מו"ה חיים שמעון זאב שי'[1]
שלום וברכה!
לאחרי שתיקתו נעם לי לקבל מכתבו מחמישי באייר ות"ח על הבשו"ט מבריאותו, ובטח מקיים ציווי תוה"ק המודיעה שהיא הנותנת רשות לרופא לרפאות, שבזה רשות פירושו ג"כ כח ואין הרופא אלא צנור על ידו מקבלים כח ותוספת כח להיות הגוף בריא ושלם שמדרכי השם הוא וכמבואר ברמב"ם הלכות דיעות ריש פרק ד' ובכ"מ וגם בתורת החסידות בכמה מאמרים.
ובמ"ש במאמר הזהר* מאן פני האדון ה' דא רשב"י, ידוע שישנם כמה מהעולמות'שע שעמדו על זה, וכבר מכבר מלתי אמורה שנמצא הדבר גם בנגלה דתורה, ע"ד מרז"ל כל מה שיש ביבשה יש בים**, והוא בירושלמי בכורים ג' ג'[2], ומבואר הענין גם בדא"ח.
וכיון שנמצאים אנו בימים שבין פסח זמן חירותנו ולחג השבועות זמן מתן תורתנו חרות על הלוחות א"ת חרות אלא חירות, הנה יהי רצון שתתוסף בכ"א בתכ"י חירות מכל ענינים המבלבלים לעבודת השם שבזה גם עניני בריאות הגוף וכמבואר גם בדרז"ל, שכל ישראל היו בריאים ושלמים לקבלת התורה גם בגופם ובגשמיות, ומובן עוד יותר ע"פ המבואר בתניא פרק מ"ט ובנו בחרת מכל עם ולשון, שהבחירה בגלוי הוא הגוף החומרי כו' עיי"ש.
בברכה לבשו"ט מתוך בריאות הנכונה.
*) ח"ב לח, א.
**) עפמש"כ בת"ז ת"ל ונתבאר בהקדמת הרח"ו לשער ההקדמות.
Letters of the Rebbe, Volume 15, letter number 5,447. Baruch Hashem, the 14th of Iyar, 5717, Brooklyn. To the Chassid, Rabbi Chaim Shimon Zev Rubin in Jerusalem.
Shalom u’vracha.
The Rebbe writes that after a long silence it was a pleasure to receive the writer’s letter from Thursday, the 5th of Iyar. He thanks him for the good news regarding the improvement of his health.
The Rebbe adds that he is surely fulfilling the instruction of our holy Torah, which teaches that permission was given to the doctor to heal. This means not only permission, but that Hashem grants the physician the ability to serve as the channel through which healing comes. The doctor is the means, but the healing power itself comes from Hashem.
Therefore, following proper medical guidance is itself in harmony with Torah. A healthy and complete body is part of the path of serving Hashem, as explained in many Torah sources.
The Rebbe then turns to a question that had been raised regarding a statement in the Zohar. On the verse about appearing before the Master on the festivals, the Zohar states: “Who is the Master? This is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.” Such statements can seem difficult to understand.
The Rebbe explains that this concept is not limited to the hidden teachings of Torah. Similar ideas are found in the revealed part of Torah as well. Everything found in the inner dimension of Torah has a parallel in the revealed dimension.
He cites the Jerusalem Talmud in Bikkurim, where the verse “Hashem is in His holy chamber” is interpreted regarding Rabbi Yitzchak bar Eleazar when he was in the study hall of Caesarea. Likewise, the Mekhilta comments on the verse “They believed in Hashem and in Moshe His servant,” teaching that faith in Moshe is bound together with faith in Hashem.
The point is not, Heaven forbid, to equate a human being with the Creator. Rather, it teaches that the Divine presence rests within and is revealed through the righteous leaders of Israel, who serve as channels for holiness and faith.
The Rebbe continues that the present days between Pesach, the season of our freedom, and Shavuos, the time of the giving of our Torah, are days especially connected with freedom. Regarding the tablets, the Sages say: do not read the word as “engraved” but as “freedom,” for there is no one as free as one who occupies himself with Torah.
The Rebbe blesses that every Jew should add in true freedom from all matters that distract a person from serving Hashem. This includes freedom from bodily weakness and health concerns.
He further notes, as explained in Tanya, that when we say “You have chosen us from all nations and tongues,” the choice especially relates to the Jewish body. The soul is inherently holy, but the body is the object of Divine choice and therefore must be healthy and prepared for holy service. This is why the Jewish people were healed before receiving the Torah.
The Rebbe concludes with blessings for continued good news and proper health.
The message of the letter is that physical health, spiritual freedom, Torah learning, and connection to the righteous are all parts of one unified service of Hashem.
Summary – The Rebbe teaches that healing comes from Hashem through natural channels, and that true freedom means removing whatever blocks Divine service. A healthy body, a Torah-filled life, and connection to holy leadership together bring wholeness and blessing.