6253 —טהרת ישראל, לימוד תורה ודרך הגאולה

With the help of Heaven, 17 Iyar, 5718, Brooklyn. To the esteemed Rabbi Chananya Yom Tov Lipa shlit"a. Greetings and blessings!

In response to your letter from Monday: I requested to promptly contact our community members in Albany regarding the matter you wrote about. Surely you are also in touch with them yourself. May it be His will that through you and them the Divine Name will be glorified—especially in the most elevated matter: the purity of the Jewish people. Purity brings about Elijah the Prophet who heralds our true redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Regarding your comments on your book: What can I do? Many concerns surround me, and as stated in Pirkei Avot: 'Do not say: When I am free I will study; perhaps you will never become free.' As for those who approached you about a ruling from me—it is well known that this is not customary, especially on matters already discussed by many and cited in their works.

May it be His will that as we come from Pesach—the season of our freedom, freedom from the forty-nine gates of impurity—and as we count and draw closer each day to receiving the Torah—tablets inscribed by the finger of God—'engraved' (charut) on the tablets; do not read 'engraved' but 'freedom,' complete freedom from the evil inclination—not only ruling over it but even its opinion being removed from the world (see Tanya ch. 13 and ch. 37), whose completion depends on our deeds and service. Then abundant blessing will flow into all worlds through refining our souls, spirits, and neshamot from all dross and blemish; this refinement is achieved through Torah study with awe of Heaven and observance of its commandments.

This applies not only to oneself but also 'say and you shall say,' to caution adults regarding minors—not only concerning forbidden foods done out of defiance (see Horayot 11a: eating a flea etc.), but even eating blood which has health benefits (see Berachot 44b: every soul etc., close to one's soul etc., see Ramban Vayikra 17:11). Moreover, even regarding ritual impurity which is solely a decree of Scripture—for it is not truly contact with a corpse that defiles but rather a decree (see Yevamot 114a). Through this we merit freedom from foreign nations' rule—in true and complete redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days.

Blessings for good news.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that personal and communal efforts toward purity—through Torah study, mitzvot, and guiding others—lead to spiritual refinement and hasten redemption. True freedom is achieved when we elevate ourselves above impurity by following Divine decrees wholeheartedly.