9216 —פירוש ברכת תנחומים וקשרו לציון

B"H, 23 Elul, 5726.

Brooklyn, NY.

To the esteemed vavac"h iy"a nu"m Bachur Me'am u'Muram Me'am v'Doresh Tov l'Amo Ba'al Middot Terumiyot Anaf Etz Avot Moreinu HaRav Shneor Zalman Sheyichyeh and all the family, may they live.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was saddened to hear of the passing of the esteemed vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Moreinu HaRav Avraham a"h. May HaMakom comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. From now on, may only goodness and kindness find you all your days.

With esteem, respect, and with blessings for a good inscription and sealing in the Book of Life.

It is seemingly not understood why the wording of the condolence blessing connects consolation with mourning for Zion and Jerusalem. However, this itself is a central point in comfort, which is threefold (though this is not the time to elaborate): (a) The individual's mourning is truly also communal mourning; this is emphasized by including the mourner among those who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem—that is, all Jews and all of Israel. (b) The individual's comfort is assured just as surely as that of Zion and Jerusalem, which is a fundamental principle of our living faith. (c) The comfort is a true comfort similar to that for Zion and Jerusalem about which it is said: "And you shall say on that day (for now this is not at all understood): I will thank You, Hashem, for You were angry with me; Your anger has turned away and You have comforted me,"—the "I will thank You" is for the "You were angry." So too is the blessing and assurance in comforting an individual—among all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem; may it be rebuilt and established speedily in our days.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that personal loss is intertwined with communal sorrow for Zion; both share assured comfort rooted in faith. This connection elevates individual grief into a collective hope for true consolation.