6602 —תודה על הספרים, אחדות התורה, וחשיבות לימוד החסידות

B"H, 14 Kislev, 5719.

Brooklyn.

To the administration of the Chasam Sofer Institute for Publishing.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With thanks I acknowledge receipt of the books published by you that were sent here.

May it be G‑d's will that you increase your efforts to strengthen and expand Torah—both the revealed dimension and the inner teachings of Torah—which go hand in hand, for Torah is a complete Torah. In our generation, this completeness has been revealed through the teachings of Chassidus.

It is explained in many places how essential this study is, as it leads to love and awe of Hashem and also serves as preparation for all Torah study. The Shas (Pesachim 50b) states that greatness surpasses even the heavens when one acts purely for its own sake; one who studies for its own sake does so out of love for the Master of all (see Rambam at the end of Hilchos Teshuvah).

It is also well known that the Chasam Sofer's^[1] practice in this regard was to precede his Torah study with a matter of Aggadah, so as to lengthen his prayer; and prayer comes specifically before learning, as Abba Binyamin requested (Berachos 5b) [regarding the question of Tosafos there, see Likkutei Torah by the Alter Rebbe, Devarim 96b^[2]].

With honor and blessing.

Notes

1. The Chasam Sofer's practice (הנהגת החת"ס) — Rabbi Moshe Sofer of Pressburg, after whom the institute is named. Before his learning he would study a matter of Aggadah in order to be able to daven at length, since Aggadah arouses love and awe of G‑d, as the Sifri (Eikev 11:22) says: "If you wish to know the One Who spoke and the world came into being, study Aggadah, for through it you come to know the Holy One, blessed be He, and cleave to His ways." His order was thus: Aggadah, then lengthy prayer, then Torah study. This is the Rebbe's proof: if this giant of the revealed Torah preceded his learning with a preparation of love and awe, all the more should the institute bearing his name strengthen the study of the inner dimension of Torah, which in our generation is Chassidus.

2. The question of Tosafos (קושית התוס') — Tosafos ask how Abba Binyamin knew that learning before prayer is forbidden. Likkutei Torah answers that it is not a prohibition; rather, Torah studied after prayer, once love and awe have been set in one's heart, is learning for its own sake and on a higher level. That is the point of the letter: the inner preparation elevates the Torah study itself.

Summary

The Rebbe expresses gratitude for receiving new seforim, highlights the unity between revealed and inner Torah, and stresses that studying Chassidus prepares one spiritually and intellectually for all areas of Torah learning.