5855 —חיזוק הטהרה וסטנדרטים של מקוה באלבאני

B"H, 18th of Menachem Av, 5718.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n baal meretz etc. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Deitch

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from Sunday regarding the mikvah in Albany: The day before yesterday I also spoke with vavac"h iy"a Moreinu HaRav Avraham, shochet u'bodek, about this matter, urging them to improve the situation as much as possible. Once again they promised to bring up the issue for discussion and review it again. May it be G‑d's will that ultimately this will come to fruition in the proper manner regarding mikvaos, with every possible hiddur (enhancement), and surely when it nears realization they will contact your honor.

The matter of building, as seems from your letter—the lack of communication on this—is understandably distressing and alarming. After all, there is a deficiency in such an important matter in a certain place. Even if one would say there was an unavoidable circumstance here, "as if it was done we do not say." Understand that my intention is not G‑d forbid merely to rebuke; rather, it is only to draw special attention—since you have become aware of this issue, it is certainly a directive for all those who know about it to do something to correct and improve the situation. With appropriate contemplation, ways and means will be found for this. This is based on the saying of the Baal Shem Tov that we have often heard from my father-in-law the Rebbe: everything a Jew sees or hears contains a lesson for his service of his Creator—this is clear.

Regarding your comments about your books—recent and upcoming volumes—what can I do? My time is not my own due to many preoccupations. As I wrote previously, I have not despaired G‑d forbid that eventually I will be able to review them at least briefly—even if only hurriedly—but at present I do not know when this will be possible. May Hashem grant you success in strengthening taharah and spreading it wherever your influence reaches.

May it be His will that also the inner dimension of this should be revealed—that is, the inner aspect of Torah—as hinted by our Sages: "Daas—this is Seder Taharos," and explained further by Rambam at the end of Hilchos Mikvaos: taharah in its inner sense is daas—knowledge—knowing Hashem as water covers the sea. Although its fullness will be realized with the coming and revelation of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, a foretaste and beginning must occur during exile. This idea appears also in works of mussar: redemption began at the very moment of destruction; likewise hinted in Eichah Rabbah—the cow's first bellow was for destruction and immediately after for the birth of the redeemer. In the words of Rabbeinu HaZaken (the Alter Rebbe), author of Tanya: "The ultimate perfection of Messianic times and resurrection depends on our actions and service throughout exile." See there chapter 37.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that awareness brings responsibility—to strengthen both physical taharah through proper mikvah standards and spiritual purity through Torah study and action. Every challenge we encounter carries a personal directive for growth and improvement.