6016 —בריאות הגוף ככלי לנשמה

B"H, 28 Teves, 5718.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z Ephraim Eliezer HaKohen

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letters from the eve of the 24th of Teves, which is the yahrzeit of our master, the Alter Rebbe, author of Tanya and Shulchan Aruch, including what was enclosed and from the following day. Thank you for the good news regarding your health...

May it be G‑d's will that you will also share good news in all other matters about which you write, with visible and revealed goodness. This is in line with what our Sages say regarding the tenth month, Teves: it is a month when the body benefits from the body. This should also be explained according to the Midrash (cited in Meorei Or): "Achashverosh—this refers to the Holy One Blessed Be He—His end and beginning are His," from which it is understood that body, essence, and being benefit from the body of a Jewish person (see Tanya ch. 49: "And You have chosen us from every nation and tongue," referring specifically to the physical body; true choice is only in something not limited by any boundary or restriction). As a result—even among Bnei Yisrael to whom this truly applies—"the man was like one of us," see Rambam Hilchos Teshuvah ch. 5; Likkutei Torah by the Baal HaHilula, Emor 38b. The pleasure comes specifically through the body—as explained in Tanya ch. 36—and it is specifically through matters of the body that G‑d's desire is fulfilled... All this requires a preface: that the body must be healthy and whole, as explained in Rambam Hilchos Deos at the beginning of ch. 3 and ch. 4.

With honor and blessing for good news in all mentioned above—and in connection with your birthday—and for a year of success in all good.

Regarding your question about natural love on Shabbos?! It can be explained that Shabbos is characterized by delight in all its details (even during sleep), like oil that permeates everywhere. This is opposite to natural delight whose essence is constancy—because constant delight is not considered delight. See Tanya ch. 44: "And like nature... nevertheless they are not called etc." Also see a letter from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, added to Kuntres HaAvodah.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that maintaining physical health is essential for fulfilling one's spiritual mission; only when the body is whole can it serve as a true vessel for G‑dliness in this world.