10300 —שינוי מקום, לימוד תורה, והתייחסות לשאלות הלכתיות

B"H, Tuesday of the week, the second day of Chanukah, 5732.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n etc. Yehoshua

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter from the 8th of MarCheshvan and those before it. As seven days have passed etc...

With blessing—to write until its copying (in due time) to the notebook—that changing one's place brings a change in fortune for good and blessing both materially and spiritually together.

M. Schneerson

P.S. In response to your comments: a) Regarding the letter from Admor Maharash—it is explicit (in its copy) that it was written to Sarake (one of the settlements). b) The source reference for the relevance of the content of the parsha and its timing to that—so tzt"z also indicated (Vayeshev 268a). I have seen this since in Menachot A (48b). c) Also Rashi's commentary on "bencha hu" is according to the simple meaning (since it follows his usual approach), but not strictly so as per his usual approach (as is evident in several places). Perhaps the reason is that the age of the learner in "bencha" is older. And so forth. d) The year of Torah refers to all boys (including those who are already bar mitzvah), based on the wording in Birkot Kohanim by Admor Hazaken, see Magen Avraham 84 and elsewhere. e) The opinion of Ra'avad regarding Ben Koziva the king does not contradict what Rambam writes in Hilchot Melachim at the end of chapter 11—because Ra'avad's view is that this was only the beginning period of his revelation. f) Regarding prohibiting something upon oneself: this refers to vows—as explained in Sifri on Parshat Matot: "upon himself," etc., "his own vows," etc., "his wife's vows," etc. (and thus Ramban's question on Rashi there is resolved—according to his version). See also commentaries on Zohar II (115b). These matters are longstanding. g) Regarding Shimshon—there are two opinions in Sotah (9b and there): one says he rebelled against his Creator etc., another says he acted for G‑d's sake. And in Zohar III (127a)—like the latter opinion; there it resolves the question and explains that Shimshon was a Nazirite for G‑d etc.

It is well known as a rule in Rambam that he does not rely on forced explanations; when there are two opposing views in Talmud and Talmud rules like one, he will indicate within his words a rejection of the other view (Yad Malachi; ShN). Therefore Rambam elaborates (Hilchot Issurei Biah ch.3 halacha 5): "Let it not arise... upon Israel..." And perhaps this is why he elaborates further: "the secret of this matter is thus"—to hint that even according to Kabbalah his view remains so.

Certainly you are keeping up with the three daily study portions common to all—Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya—and you should continue doing so from now on.

He will be mentioned at an auspicious time at the holy resting place as requested in your letter.

Summary

The Rebbe emphasizes how changing one's environment can bring positive change both physically and spiritually, addresses detailed halachic queries with sources from Torah literature, and encourages steadfastness in daily Torah study practices.