6300 —מדריגות גן עדן, דעת הרמב"ם, וטבע המלאכים

B"H, 9 Sivan, 5718. Brooklyn.

Harav vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Avraham Moshe Greenberg

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 25th of Iyar, which was received in due course, in which you write: a) Regarding what is written in Likkutei Torah Behar 41b that there are many levels in the delight of souls, even though only Gan Eden HaTachton (the lower Gan Eden) and Gan Eden HaElyon (the higher Gan Eden) are mentioned in the holy books—this means that only these have been revealed to us. You ask for clarification. The explanation is straightforward: Gan Eden HaTachton and Gan Eden HaElyon were revealed to select souls even while they were still in their bodies—similar to the four who entered Pardes and Metivta D’Rakia (the heavenly academy), about whom it is said: "Who can testify? Rabbah bar Nachmani" (Bava Metzia 86a). See Likkutei Torah at the end of Parshas Tazria. In contrast, higher levels than these have not been revealed. This is also understood from what is written in Iggeres HaKodesh by our master the Alter Rebbe, section 19: that even prophets do not attain beyond Mochin DeChochmah as invested within Binah; see Likkutei Torah there—that this is the concept of Gan Eden HaElyon as related to the sefirah of Binah; also see Tanya chapter 39.

b) Regarding your wish to interpret that according to the Rambam, Gan Eden does not yet exist but will only exist in the future—Heaven forbid to say so! There are many statements by our Sages concerning Gan Eden found in Shas and Zohar, and this matter is explicit also in Rambam Hilchos Teshuvah at the end of chapter 8.

c) Regarding your wonder at the statement by our master the Alter Rebbe that an angel has a body—whereas Rambam says an angel is a separate intellect—see Likkutei Torah Berachah 98a where it states that this follows Ramban’s words based on "Oseh Malachav Ruchos Meshartav Eish Lohet" (He makes His angels spirits; His servants flames of fire), but specifies that this means spirit and fire in a refined form.

On this occasion I would like to remind you about keeping up with the three well-known daily study portions—Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya—which we have heard many times from my revered father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal that they are suitable for every soul and serve as a merit for many matters.

With blessing for good news.

In the name of my revered father-in-law the Rebbe shlita

Mazkir

* My revered grandfather (the Rebbe Rashab) of blessed memory in his discourse "Padah B'Shalom" (the second one) from the year Azrat brings both opinions and adds: "And it seems that what Rambam means when he says they are form without matter is not matter of Asiyah but spiritual matter." According to this it is understood what Etz Chaim Shaar Nefesh Perek Zayin brings—that angels are called separate intellects but also possess substance and form. See also Likkutei Torah Shelach 46a.

Summary

The Rebbe clarifies deep concepts about Gan Eden’s levels and angels’ nature according to various sources while emphasizing steadfastness in daily Torah study as a source of blessing for all.