6208 —התחלת הנחת תפילין מוקדמת, הדרכה חסידית, והפצת חסידות

B"H, 1st of Iyar, 5718.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch haraha"tz benash"k etc. etc. Shalom.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 25th of Nissan. I was pleased to read about your son's beginning to put on tefillin, and I am enclosing this letter to him as you suggested.

It is clear that your son did well by starting now to put on tefillin, for we have explicitly heard from my revered father-in-law the Rebbe (as quoted in Hayom Yom for the 2nd of Menachem Av) a directive for the public to begin putting on tefillin two months before the bar mitzvah [as is precise in the wording "for the public," because in the house of the Rebbe they would begin much earlier than this; and once my revered father-in-law related that he began putting on tefillin at age twelve].

I am aware of the opinion of some later authorities (brought in commentaries on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim siman 37) that since tefillin require a clean body one should not start early, especially in our generations. Nevertheless, since there was an explicit instruction as above, it is a mitzvah to fulfill the words of these later sages—especially since they instructed publicizing their view (as stated "for the public").

The reason for this directive seems to be connected with striving and effort to spread Chassidus as widely as possible without setting preconditions for this Torah—even though in earlier generations (before the revelation of the Baal Shem Tov, his disciple the Maggid and their disciples including our Rebbe) they were strict about such conduct. The well-known parable from our Rebbe [see HaTamim vol. II p. 49; above vol. XIV letter 644] tells of a precious stone in a king's crown: when his only son fell gravely ill, the king commanded—even on mere possibility—to take a precious stone from his crown and try to heal his only son with it; as it is said: it is worthwhile to spill much outside just for a chance that some drops will reach the prince and he will recover—the lesson is clear.

This has also been seen tangibly in recent years: how spreading Chassidus has saved many from various trials and pitfalls—well known to all who were in Russia and withstood trials there.

At an auspicious time all those you write about will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my revered father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal nishmaso Eden; may you have good news in all matters mentioned in your letter.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that starting tefillin early follows chassidic guidance meant to spread holiness widely without undue restrictions—just as sharing Chassidus broadly can save souls even when earlier generations were more cautious. Publicizing Torah brings blessing and protection.