5795 —הדרכה על התחלת שיעור גמרא ציבורי שבועי

B"H, 11 Tishrei, 5718.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n melechet melachto shamayim Moshe Yitzchak Hecht

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter bearing good news that on Sunday of the upcoming Chol HaMoed Sukkot, you will begin a public Gemara class. May it be G‑d's will that the learning is successful both in quality and quantity—that is, by increasing the number of participants—and certainly the teaching of our Sages will be fulfilled: 'Great is study, for it leads to action.'

Regarding your question about which tractate to begin with and how to conduct the study: Since the learning is only one hour per week for now, it is appropriate to choose a tractate whose topics are not too lengthy and from among the smaller tractates so that it can be completed within several months at least. And since this is something new, it is also fitting that it deals with subjects relevant to practical halachic matters.

Based on all this, it would be good to suggest studying Tractate Megillah. Of those mentioned above, we have already covered Rosh Hashanah; as for Beitzah—not only does it contain several complex topics, but its laws are not as frequently applicable in practice regarding people's work as opposed to Megillah. Additionally, Megillah contains many aggadic passages that draw the heart and can be explained in various ways through commentaries like Ein Yaakov. Surely from all these options you can choose the most suitable approach for your audience.

May it be G‑d's will that at both the beginning and end of this tractate—on the eleventh through fifteenth [of Adar]—the well-known hint brought by earlier authorities will be fulfilled: this [range] corresponds to the Divine Name whose ending is yud-aleph vav-heh (11–15), and its beginning yud-heh; their total sum from eleven through fifteen is sixty-five—the numerical value of Adnai—the Divine Name as pronounced with its shield and sheath. That is, just as G‑dliness extends and becomes concealed within the garments of the world—which must be revealed through Torah study when one declares something kosher or pure or permitted—so too each day’s true essence is revealed. As known from the conclusion [of Megillah], Moshe instituted for Israel to inquire and expound upon each day's matters specifically in accordance with Rashi’s explanation there: 'to accept and uphold upon themselves and their children in this world and in the next.'

With blessings for success in your holy work and a joyous festival.

Summary

The Rebbe encourages starting a weekly public Gemara class with accessible material relevant to daily life—specifically recommending Tractate Megillah—and highlights how Torah study reveals G‑dliness within our world.