7084 —המשך לימוד אחרי תניא, פרויקטים של חב"ד בארץ ישראל, ושנת הבעש"ט

B"H, 22 MarCheshvan, 5720.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I pleasantly received your telegram and am replying with a quick urgent letter rather than a telegram so that it will be clearer; I think that the difference of a few days does not matter.

You ask what should be studied following the completion of Tanya. In my opinion, it is appropriate to continue with the study of Sefer Torah Or. Among the reasons for this is that the reader or lecturer before the group will find explanations on the discourses in Sefer Torah Or—especially the earlier ones—in Sefer Toras Chaim by Admor HaEmtza'i, and for some discourses also in Sefer Or HaTorah by Admor tzt"z on Likkutei Torah for Parshas Gimmel Parshiyos. As referenced in the notes and sources at the end of Sefer Torah Or, Kehot publication, which was sent to you as a separate package.

Allow me to add based on our Sages' well-known saying: "Gadol Talmud shemeivi lidei maaseh" (Great is study because it leads to action), may it be G‑d's will that this be fulfilled also in your aforementioned study.

Surely you received my letters on time, as well as the indexes for Likkutei Torah and a personal greeting I sent through those who visited here during Tishrei; certainly you will write to me about this as well.

As I write to you, I must express my regret that Kfar Chabad Bet and also Chabad housing in Jerusalem have not yet even entered the first stage of practical realization. Besides the fact that at such a time every moment is precious, there were also those who—if these projects had at least entered their first stage—would not have dispersed elsewhere; others refrained from traveling to Eretz HaKodesh altogether from the outset.

But since we have a great principle that one does not cry over the past (even though sometimes it is hard to restrain oneself), my main writing is about the future: I hope you will use all your influence so that these matters will advance practically from now on, as well as all general Chabad matters in Eretz HaKodesh.

As I have concluded in several letters this year, I take this opportunity to remind you that this year marks 200 years since the passing-hilulah of the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov—according to talks of my father-in-law Admor printed in Kuntres Chai Elul 5703—began his work even before his public revelation by caring for Jews' material needs and influenced other hidden tzaddikim of his generation in this direction as explained at length there; see there [since I am unsure if you have this booklet it was sent together with Sefer Torah Or].

With honor and blessing for outstanding success in all of the above.

Summary

The Rebbe encourages continued learning after Tanya with Torah Or and related texts for deeper understanding. He stresses translating learning into action and urges progress on Chabad projects in Eretz Yisrael while marking the Baal Shem Tov's bicentennial yahrzeit as an inspiration for communal care.