6168 —פירוש האבות הן הן המרכבה

B"H, 7th of Nissan, 5718. Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Avraham Moshe Greenberg

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 2nd of Nissan, the yahrzeit of the Rebbe Maharash zatzukal lehe nbagam zya and so forth. In it you ask about what is brought in many places in Tanya, Chassidus discourses, and Chassidic works in general, from our Sages: 'HaAvos hen hen haMerkavah' (the Patriarchs are themselves the chariot), which indicates their self-nullification to Hashem similar to a chariot's nullification to its rider. You wonder since in several books it is explained that the concept of Merkavah means that through it comes G‑d's governance of the world. It is not understood what the contradiction between these two points is—on the contrary, they complement each other. In Tanya it explains a person's level and state in his service to his Creator so that his service will be on the level of Merkavah; and in those books about them it writes and explains the effect on the world that comes through this. This is similar to explaining the concept of priesthood and kohanim who are emissaries in Beis HaMikdash service to offer Israel's sacrifices, etc.—this relates to their effect in the world and specifically in the Mikdash; regarding their status and level in serving Hashem—it is as Rambam writes (end of Hilchos Shemittah v'Yovel) about Leviim whose spirit moved them and understanding led them to separate themselves to stand before Hashem, etc.—they were separated from worldly matters, etc.

I hope you have set times for studying Chassidus and also influence your surroundings to spread this study, for this is both a demand of our time and a necessity—as explained at length with wondrous words by Rav Chaim Vital, primary disciple of the Arizal HaChai, in his introduction to Shaar HaHakdamot—and nothing stands before willpower.

Blessings for a kosher and joyous Pesach holiday,

In the name of the Rebbe shlita,
Secretary
v'shanaz.
v'tafach.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies that being a Merkavah means both self-nullification before G‑d and serving as a conduit for Divine influence in this world—these ideas are not contradictory but complementary. He encourages regular study of Chassidus and spreading its teachings.