7356 —דיון הלכתי על העשירי, יציאה, וקדושה

B"H, 8th of Tammuz, 5720.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g haraha"ch iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z tznam"s etc. Moharshi Zuin

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 3rd of Tammuz, addressing your points in order: Regarding your objection about what is written that the tenth is holy regardless, even if it was in the pen—this applies only if afterwards it exited through that same gate, which clarifies the matter from the outset. You ask what difference does it make if it exited and where it exited, etc. There is both a logical reason and an explicit source. The logic is simple: exiting through a different gate means it is from another pen. Moreover, this even uproots its previous inclusion in the proper count. Since this is so regarding exit through a gate, it logically follows that death also uproots from this pen; thus how can this lamb be sanctified because there are nine others in another pen? In other words, exit—through another gate—determines the pen. There is no reason to differentiate between the ninth and tenth animals here.

Regarding what you wrote that the law is "the tenth is holy even if it did not exit," in many cases there is a general rule that retroactive clarification can occur in this way or its opposite. And there is also an explicit source for this, as I noted in my previous letter [Rashi manuscript s.v. Minyan HaRa'ui (Bekhoros 59b): "if it died or exited through another gate." And Rashi there: "the tenth was not sanctified." This refers to when there were only ten present]. It is very surprising that you quote from a book (not Rashi's manuscript) which writes that Rashi's wording here is imprecise because in any case one is exempt since the tenth is holy; yet Rashi explicitly says it is not sanctified. Perhaps he saw Rashi's manuscript but not standard Rashi; similarly with Rav Chaim's commentary on Bava Metzia 6b: "he has ten sheep in a pen... jumped... they are exempt by proper count for ma'aser even if none exited," etc.

I greatly appreciated your efforts regarding the rabbinic situation in Ramat Gan and look forward to good news about this. In my view this benefits both individuals and the community at large...

It is surprising that during public addresses connected with the bicentennial of the Baal Shem Tov's passing (hillula), I have not yet found any declaration (especially since I believe special emphasis is needed) that the Baal Shem Tov added light to Torah and mitzvah observance—and G‑d forbid diminished even one detail—though our Sages emphasized "the Merciful One desires the heart."

Blessings for good news regarding all of the above—in general and particular matters—and with blessings for Chag HaGeulah, redemption of my revered father-in-law Admor and our collective redemption together with him.

Summary

The Rebbe analyzes halachic details concerning ma'aser beheimah and clarifies how status changes like death or exiting through another gate affect sanctity. He also stresses publicizing how the Baal Shem Tov enhanced Torah observance without diminishing any aspect.