8777 —האברך עזרא בנימין, לימוד תניא, והבחנה במצות לאחר מתן תורה

B"H, 3 Adar, 5724.

Brooklyn.

The Avrech Ezra Binyamin sheyichyeh.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

...Your previous letters to the above have been received. I was pleased to see that you are delving deeply and precisely into your study of Tanya, etc., even though in general such precision in every word is only appropriate for people like us after being well-versed in several volumes and discourses of Chassidus. As for your many questions on Iggeres HaTeshuvah—discuss these with the mashpi'im of Chassidus whom you meet.

Regarding your question on what is explained in the Likkutei for Parshas Yisro about the superiority of mitzvos after Matan Torah compared to before Matan Torah—that seemingly this does not apply to mitzvos that were already commanded before Matan Torah (as explained in the Likkutei for Parshas Lech Lecha): Even with milah (circumcision), etc., it is written in Peirush HaMishnayos (Chullin end of chapter 7) about the superiority of Matan Torah—and the distinction (at least briefly) is: What they fulfilled on their own before Matan Torah was only a scent and spirituality; therefore, with Yaakov's sticks and similar things, no holiness remained afterward. What they were commanded to fulfill (specifically in physicality)—holiness remained in the physical even afterward (and therefore Avraham had to make an oath by placing a hand under his thigh)—but only a holiness that a created being (the staff) could reach (the root of created beings), because there was a decree that those below could not ascend above. After Matan Torah, whose essence was nullifying this decree—'He sanctified us with His commandments,' which is incomparable to the root of created beings (a scent compared to the holiness of the Creator). Nevertheless, for the basis of this distinction—see the aforementioned Likkutei.

Summary

The Rebbe encourages deep study but advises consulting mashpi'im for complex questions. He explains that mitzvos performed after Matan Torah possess a unique sanctity within physicality due to the nullification of spiritual barriers at Sinai.