6559 —הטבת המצב, ולקח אש"ל אברהם וגרותו בארץ פלשתים

B"H, 17th of Marcheshvan, 5719

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

... May it be G‑d's will that you soon bring news of an improvement in your situation, more and more, which will also bring an increase in matters of Torah and mitzvos, in keeping with the fulfillment of the mission as stated in the Mishnah, אני נבראתי לשמש את קוני "I was created to serve my Maker" (Kiddushin 82a).

And in this connection also, regarding what was discussed last night at the gathering, on the theme of the day, from the weekly portion: ויטע אשל בבאר שבע ויקרא שם בשם ה' א-ל עולם ויגר אברהם בארץ פלשתים ימים רבים "And he planted an eshel in Be'er Sheva, and there he called in the name of G‑d, the eternal G‑d. And Avraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days" (Bereishis 21:33-34), and afterwards the test of the Akeidah (Bereishis 22:1), etc.

That through tzedakah, which is בכל מאדך "with all your might" (Devarim 6:5; "with all your wealth," Berachos 54a) (which is the concept of eshel — food, drink and escort (Rashi, Sotah 10a) — that not only did he give the passersby what they needed, but he also planted an orchard, so that there would also be fruit, which is a matter of delight; and further still, he planted an inn, so that they would have food, drink and escort in every detail; and further still, he planted a Sanhedrin (Bereishis Rabbah 54:6), which is the ultimate ascent in spiritual matters as well; and מר אמר חדא ומר אמר חדא ולא פליגי "one master said one thing and the other master said another, and they do not disagree").

He thus fulfilled the mission to sojourn in the land of the Philistines — this physical world — "many days," which is the length of the exile, where every moment in it is like "many days" (the opposite of a matter of good, where ויהיו בעיניו כימים אחדים "and they seemed to him like a few days" (Bereishis 29:20)), and it reached its purpose, the Akeidah, the test of actual self-sacrifice; and this is easily understood.

With blessing for good news.

Publisher's notes

Printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 660, and completed according to the copy in the Secretariat. A similar text was written to several people.

What was discussed last night at the gathering (מה שנדבר אמש באסיפה): Of the askanim (activists) of the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch yeshivos. Printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 3, p. 769.

Summary

This letter wishes the recipient an improving situation that will bring more Torah and mitzvos. From Parshas Vayeira it shows how Avraham's eshel rose from meeting bare needs to the delight of an orchard, full hospitality and finally a Sanhedrin, and how his long sojourn among the Philistines, the long exile of this world, reached its purpose in the self-sacrifice of the Akeidah.