6549 —דרישת תורה ומצות בלי פשרות כתפקידם האמיתי של הרבנים, וחמרא למרא וטיבותא לשקי'

B"H, 10th of Marcheshvan, 5719

Brooklyn.

The Rabbi and Gaon, the veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, honored and elevated, engaged in communal needs, our teacher Rabbi Chaim, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8th of Cheshvan with the enclosed donation of Mrs. Sarah Liyaf, may she live, for Torah institutions. It appears from your letter that it is a continuation of the visit of Rabbi Teleshevsky, may he live, and it was therefore passed to the institution he represents.

In any event, חמרא למרא וטיבותא לשקי' "the wine belongs to its owner, but the thanks go to the one who pours it," as our Sages taught (Bava Kama 92b); and may it be G‑d's will that your honor, may you live, increase in activities such as these.

And may it be G‑d's will that ממנו יראו וכן יעשו "from him they will see, and so they will do" (cf. Shoftim 7:17), the other rabbis of the United States too, as they recognize their true task, bringing the members of their congregations closer to the actual observance of the Torah and its commandments, all their other affairs (such as sermons, visits to householders, and the like) being only secondary, and a means to fulfilling that task,

For it is known that in a matter affecting the many, a deficiency in direction, even by a hairsbreadth, is multiplied many times over, since it is lacking for tens and hundreds of people, as is easily understood.

And it has already been seen tangibly in the United States that when one demands of householders and their families Torah and mitzvos without compromise, תורה תמימה "a perfect Torah" (cf. Tehillim 19:8), whole and complete, not only are they not put off, but on the contrary, they are glad to be told the truth in full. Even those who are not ready to accept this demand to the extent required are impressed, and so this brings about at least the fulfillment of part of the demand; and that itself makes room for demanding of them, from time to time, more and still more. This is not so when one comes with compromises from the start, etc. This point was also the content of my general letter for last Rosh Hashanah, a copy of which is enclosed here, and which will surely interest your honor, may you live.

With respect and with blessing.

P.S.

See the Sefer HaMitzvos of our master, the Tzemach Tzedek, the mitzvah of milah, end of chapter 3, on the matter of "the wine belongs to its owner, but the thanks go to the one who pours it," that this applies specifically to man alone, who possesses free choice, unlike, etc. From this the greatness of this matter is also understood, according to what is explained in Chassidus, that true choice, which is wholly free choice, belongs only to the Jewish people, of whom it is said, בנים אתם לה' אלקיכם "You are children to the L‑rd your G‑d" (Devarim 14:1), which is the place of wholly free choice, with no hindrance or impediment whatsoever, G‑d forbid, since it is the true existence (see letter 6539); which is not so with the other created beings, the angels included, etc.

Publisher's notes

Rabbi Chaim (מו"ה חיים): Davidovitz, Denver.

Without compromise (בלי פשרות): See also above, vol. 17, letter 6280, and the sources noted there.

Applies specifically … who possesses free choice (שייך הוא דוקא.. בעל בחירה): See also above, vol. 11, letter 3572, and the sources noted there.

Only in the Jewish people (רק בבני ישראל): See also above, letter 6539, and the sources noted there.

Summary

This letter thanks a rabbi for a donation he facilitated and urges rabbis to see bringing their congregants to actual observance as their true task, since demanding Torah and mitzvos without compromise succeeds where compromise fails; a postscript explains that gratitude to the intermediary applies to man because of free choice, which in its true sense belongs only to the Jewish people.