6100 - Clarifying Physics in Tanya and the Naming of the Tribes

The Student’s Questions: Fire, Naming, and the Depth of Torah (Volume 16, Letter 6,100)

Introduction In this letter from the 7th of Adar, 5718, the Rebbe responds to an Avreich (young man) named Mimoun Sabbag from Kfar Chabad. While the Rebbe initially encourages the student to direct academic questions to his local teachers or the Rosh Yeshiva, he ultimately provides a masterful Postscript (N.B.) that settles two complex difficulties in Tanya and Chumash.

The Chain of Command in Learning

The Rebbe begins by setting a standard for Torah study: a student should first seek clarity from their immediate mentors and heads of the Yeshiva. This ensures a proper relationship between student and teacher. However, the Rebbe notes that since the student has already written, he will provide the answers while offering a blessing to be mentioned at the Holy Tziyun of the Previous Rebbe for success in study and perfection in mitzvah observance.

The Element of Fire: Above the World, Below the Moon

The student raised a question about the Four Elements discussed in Tanya (Chapter 19) and Kabbalah. Specifically, he was confused about the location of Yesod Ha’Eish (the Element of Fire).

• The Clarification: The Rebbe corrects the student's suggestion that this "fire" is located within the moon.

• The Source: Citing the Rambam (Yad HaChazakah, Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah, end of Ch. 3) and Midrash Rabbah (Bamidbar 14:12), the Rebbe explains that this elemental fire exists in a spiritual/physical sphere that circles the entire world, situated specifically below the orbit of the moon.

The Nuance of Naming: Reuven vs. Shimon

The second question concerned why our Sages and Rashi provide additional meanings for the name Reuven that seem to deviate from the simple meaning in the verse ("Hashem saw my pain").

• A Change in Language: The Rebbe points out a sharp grammatical difference in the Torah's text. Regarding Reuven, the Torah says: "And she called his name Reuven, for she said: 'Because Hashem saw...'" This phrasing suggests that the reason mentioned is just one among many.

• The Contrast with Shimon: By contrast, when Shimon is named, Leah says: "Because Hashem heard... and [therefore] she called his name Shimon." Here, the reason is exclusive and directly tied to the name.

• The Sages’ Insight: This is why the Talmud (Brachos 7b) only asks "Why was he called Reuven?" and not "Why Shimon?" The language regarding Reuven was open-ended, inviting the deeper explanation brought by Rashi—comparing the character of Reuven to that of Esau.

Summary of Key Lessons

• Respect the Local Source: Whenever possible, seek Torah guidance from your immediate teachers; they are your primary link in the chain of tradition.

• Precision in Text: Every word in the Torah is exact. A slight shift in phrasing—like the order of naming versus the reason for the name—contains entire worlds of meaning.

• Integrated Knowledge: The Rebbe demonstrates that Tanya, Midrash, and Rambam are not separate subjects but a single, unified map of reality.

• The Rebbe’s Care: Even when a request falls outside "standard procedure," the Rebbe’s love for a student’s intellectual growth often leads him to provide the necessary clarity himself.

• Beyond the Surface: The "Simple Pshat" (plain meaning) of a verse is often deep enough to explain why the Sages felt compelled to offer a deeper, homiletic (Drush) explanation.