וְהִיא אִגֶּרֶת הַשְּׁלוּחָה לִכְלָלוּת אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵינוּ, יְבָרְכֵם צוּרֵנוּ וְיִשְׁמְרֵם: COMPILER’S FOREWORD1Hakdamat Hamelaket—for the author considers himself merely a “compiler.”
Being an Epistle sent to the Communities of our Faithful. May the Almighty guard them.
אֲלֵיכֶם אִישִׁים אֶקְרָא, שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי רוֹדְפֵי צֶדֶק מְבַקְשֵׁי ה׳, וְיִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם אֱלֹקִים לְמִגָּדוֹל וְעַד קָטָן, כָּל אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ דִּמְדִינָתֵינוּ וְסָמוֹכוֹת שֶׁלָּהּ, אִישׁ עַל מְקוֹמוֹ יָבוֹא לְשָׁלוֹם וְחַיִּים עַד הָעוֹלָם נֶצַח סֶלָה וָעֶד, אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן: To you, O men, do I call. Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the L–rd; and may G–d hearken to you, both great and small, all the faithful in our land and those adjacent to it. May each in his place achieve peace and eternal life for ever and ever. Amen. May this be His will.
הִנֵּה מוּדַעַת זֹאת, כִּי מַרְגְּלָא בְּפוּמֵי דְאִינְשֵׁי בְּכָל אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ לֵאמֹר כִּי אֵינָהּ דּוֹמָה שְׁמִיעַת דִּבְרֵי מוּסָר לִרְאִיָּיה וּקְרִיאָה בַּסְּפָרִים, שֶׁהַקּוֹרֵא, קוֹרֵא לְפִי דַרְכּוֹ וְדַעְתּוֹ וּלְפִי הַשָּׂגַת וּתְפִיסַת שִׂכְלוֹ בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם, וְאִם שִׂכְלוֹ וְדַעְתּוֹ מְבוּלְבָּלִים וּבַחֲשֵׁכָה יִתְהַלָּכוּ בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה׳, בְּקוֹשִׁי יָכוֹל לִרְאוֹת אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב הַגָּנוּז בַּסְּפָרִים, אַף כִּי מָתוֹק הָאוֹר לָעֵינַיִם וּמַרְפֵּא לָנֶפֶשׁ. Behold, it is known as a saying current among people—all our faithful—that listening to words of moral advice is not the same as seeing and reading them in books. For the reader reads after his own manner and mind and according to his mental grasp and comprehension at that particular time. Hence, if his intelligence and mind are confused and wander about in darkness in G–d’s service, he finds difficulty in seeing the beneficial light that is concealed in books, even though the light is pleasant to the eyes and [brings] a healing to the soul.
וּבַר מִן דֵּין, הִנֵּה סִפְרֵי הַיִּרְאָה הַבְּנוּיִים עַל פִּי שֵׂכֶל אֱנוֹשִׁי, בְּוַודַּאי אֵינָן שָׁוִין לְכָל נֶפֶשׁ, כִּי אֵין כָּל הַשְּׂכָלִים וְהַדֵּעוֹת שָׁווֹת, וְאֵין שֵׂכֶל אָדָם זֶה מִתְפָּעֵל וּמִתְעוֹרֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁמִּתְפָּעֵל וּמִתְעוֹרֵר שֵׂכֶל חֲבֵירוֹ, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה גַּבֵּי בִּרְכַּת חֲכַם הָרָזִים עַל שִׁשִּׁים רִיבּוֹא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, ״שֶׁאֵין דֵּעוֹתֵיהֶם דּוֹמוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ״ וְכוּ׳, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַב הָרַמְבַּ״ן זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה בְּמִלְחָמוֹת שָׁם בְּפֵירוּשׁ הַסִּפְרֵי גַּבֵּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ ״אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ בּוֹ״, שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַהֲלוֹךְ נֶגֶד רוּחוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד וְכוּ׳. Apart from this, the books on piety, which stem from human intelligence,2As contrasted with books which the author considers divinely inspired, of which he speaks in the following part. certainly have not the same appeal for all people, for not all intellects and minds are alike, and the intellect of one man is not affected and excited by what affects [and excites]3In the Hebrew text the word ומתעורר (“and excites”) is added according to Luach HaTikkun (List of Text Emendations in the Tanya), by the Lubavitcher Rebbe (below, p. 781). the intellect of another. Compare with what our Rabbis, of blessed memory, have said4Berachot 58a. with reference to the blessing of the “Wise One in secrets” (חכם הרזים) upon beholding 600,000 Jews, because their minds are dissimilar from one another, and so on.5The blessing praises G–d, Who knows the secrets in the hearts of all men. As also Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, of blessed memory, [explains the reason for this blessing] in Milchamot, elaborating on the commentary of the Sifrei concerning Joshua, who is described as “a man in whom there is spirit,”6Numbers 27:18. “who can meet the spirit of each and every one,”7Cf. Rashi’s commentary on said verse. and so on.
אֶלָּא אֲפִילוּ בְּסִפְרֵי הַיִּרְאָה אֲשֶׁר יְסוֹדוֹתָם בְּהַרְרֵי קוֹדֶשׁ, מִדְרְשֵׁי חֲכָמֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ ה׳ דִּבֶּר בָּם וּמִלָּתוֹ עַל לְשׁוֹנָם וְאוֹרַיְיתָא וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כּוֹלָּא חַד, וְכָל שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת כְּלָלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּפְרָטֵיהֶם וּפְרָטֵי פְרָטֵיהֶם עַד נִיצוֹץ קַל שֶׁבְּקַלִּים וּפְחוּתֵי הָעֶרֶךְ שֶׁבְּעַמֵּינוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – כּוּלְּהוּ מִתְקַשְּׁרָאן בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאוֹרַיְיתָא – הִיא הַמְקַשֶּׁרֶת אוֹתָן לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא כַּנּוֹדָע בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ. הֲרֵי זֶה דֶּרֶךְ כְּלָלוּת לִכְלָלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל. But even the books on piety, whose basis are in the peaks of holiness, the Midrashim of our Sages, of blessed memory, through whom the spirit of G–d speaks and His word is on their tongue; and [although] the Torah and the Holy One, blessed is He, are one and the same, and all the 600,000 general [souls]8In the Hebrew text the word נשמות (“souls”) is added according to Luach HaTikkun. of Israel with their individual [offshoots] down to the “spark” in the most worthless and least estimable members of our people, the children of Israel, are thus bound up with the Torah, and the Torah binds them to the Holy One, blessed is He, as is known from the holy Zohar9III:73a, see Some Aspects of Chabad Chassidism, pp. 18 ff. Revised edition: On the Study of Chasidus—A Trilogy of Chasidic Essays (Kehot, 1997), pp. 7 ff.—this [bond] pertains [only] in a general way to the community of Israel as a whole.
וְאַף שֶׁנִּיתְּנָה הַתּוֹרָה לִידָּרֵשׁ בִּכְלָל וּפְרָט וּפְרָטֵי פְרָטוּת לְכָל נֶפֶשׁ פְּרָטִית מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הַמּוּשְׁרֶשֶׁת בָּהּ, הֲרֵי אֵין כָּל אָדָם זוֹכֶה לִהְיוֹת מַכִּיר מְקוֹמוֹ הַפְּרָטִי שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה: [As for the individual,] although the Torah was given to be interpreted, in general and in particular down to the minutest detail, to [apply to] each individual soul of Israel, which is rooted in it [so that these books pertain to every person], nevertheless not every person is privileged to recognize his individual place in the Torah.
וְהִנֵּה, אַף בְּהִלְכוֹת אִיסּוּר וְהֶיתֵּר הַנִּגְלוֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ, מָצָאנוּ רָאִינוּ מַחֲלוֹקֶת תַּנָּאִים וְאַמוֹרָאִים מִן הַקָּצֶה אֶל הַקָּצֶה מַמָּשׁ, וְאֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים – לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים – עַל שֵׁם מְקוֹר הַחַיִּים לְנִשְׁמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַנֶּחְלָקוֹת דֶּרֶךְ כְּלָל לִשְׁלֹשָׁה קַוִּין, יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל וְאֶמְצַע, שֶׁהֵם חֶסֶד וּגְבוּרָה וְכוּ׳, וּנְשָׁמוֹת שֶׁשָּׁרְשָׁן מִמִּדַּת חֶסֶד, הַנְהָגָתָן גַּם כֵּן לְהַטּוֹת כְּלַפֵּי חֶסֶד – לְהָקֵל כוּ׳ כַּנּוֹדָע. [A further difficulty is the complexity of Torah interpretation.] Even in the case of the laws governing things prohibited and permitted, which have been revealed to us and to our children,10The expression “revealed to us and to our children” is taken from Deuteronomy 29:28. The first part of this verse is quoted by the author later. See also below, beg. ch. 44. we find and witness differences of opinion among Tanaim and Amoraim from one extreme to the other. Yet “these as well as these are the words of the living G–d.”11Eruvin 13b. The plural12Elokim chayim, rather than eloka chay. is used as a reference to the source of life for the souls of Israel, which are generally divided into three categories—right, left, and center, namely, kindness (chesed), might (gevurah), and so on,13The third category is tiferet (“beauty”). See Iggeret Hakodesh, sect. 15. so that the souls, whose roots originate in the category of kindness, are likewise inclined toward kindness in the leniency of their decisions, and so forth,14See ibid., sect. 13 for more light on the subject. as is known.
וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן וְקַל וָחֹמֶר בְּהַנִּסְתָּרוֹת לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ דְּאִינוּן דְּחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ דִּבְמוֹחָא וְלִבָּא דְּכָל חַד וְחַד לְפוּם שִׁיעוּרָא דִילֵיהּ – לְפוּם מַה דִמְשַׁעֵר בְּלִיבֵּיהּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ עַל פָּסוּק ״נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ וְגוֹ׳״: All the more, a minori ad mains, in the case of those things which are hidden [yet revealed only] to the L–rd our G–d,15See above, note 11. these being the awe and love that are in the mind and heart of each and every one according to his capacity, i.e., according to his heart’s estimation,16A reinterpretation of the word shi’ur (“an estimated measure”) and shaar (“gate”) in the Biblical quotation following. as explained in the holy Zohar17I:103a-b. on the verse, “Her husband is known in the gates (she’arim)….”18Proverbs 31:23.
אַךְ בְּיוֹדְעַיי וּמַכִּירַיי קָאֲמִינָא, הֵם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵאַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ שֶׁבִּמְדִינָתֵינוּ וְסָמוֹכוֹת שֶׁלָּהּ, אֲשֶׁר הָיָה הַדִּבּוּר שֶׁל חִיבָּה מָצוּי בֵּינֵינוּ, וְגִילּוּ לְפָנַי כָּל תַּעֲלוּמוֹת לִבָּם וּמוֹחָם בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה׳ הַתְּלוּיָה בַּלֵּב, אֲלֵיהֶם תִּטּוֹף מִלָּתִי וּלְשׁוֹנִי עֵט סוֹפֵר – בְּקוּנְטְרֵיסִים אֵלּוּ הַנִּקְרָאִים בְּשֵׁם ״לִקּוּטֵי אֲמָרִים״, מְלוּקָּטִים מִפִּי סְפָרִים וּמִפִּי סוֹפְרִים קְדוֹשֵׁי עֶלְיוֹן נִשְׁמָתָם עֵדֶן הַמְפוּרְסָמִים אֶצְלֵינוּ. I speak, however, of those who know me well, each and every one of our faithful who lives in our country and in lands adjacent to it, with whom words of affection have been frequently exchanged and who have revealed to me all the secrets of their heart and mind in the service of G–d, which is dependent on the heart.19Taanit 2a. Cf. Bachya’s Introduction to his Duties of the Heart. May my word percolate to them, and my tongue be as the pen of the scribe in these kuntresim that are entitled Likkutei Amarim (Selected Discourses), which have been selected from books and teachers,20On the sources of the Tanya see Introduction (Addendum, p. a). heavenly saints, whose souls are in Eden, and who are renowned among us.
וּקְצָת מֵהֶם נִרְמָזִין לְחַכִּימִין בְּאִגְּרוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ הַקֹּדֶשׁ תִּבָּנֶה וְתִכּוֹנֵן בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ אָמֵן, וּקְצָתָם שָׁמַעְתִּי מִפִּיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בִּהְיוֹתָם פֹּה עִמָּנוּ, וְכוּלָּם הֵן תְּשׁוּבוֹת עַל שְׁאֵלוֹת רַבּוֹת אֲשֶׁר שׁוֹאֲלִין בְּעֵצָה כָּל אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ דִּמְדִינָתֵינוּ תָּמִיד כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי עֶרְכּוֹ לָשִׁית עֵצוֹת בְּנַפְשָׁם בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה׳, לִהְיוֹת כִּי אֵין הַזְּמַן גְּרָמָא עוֹד לְהָשִׁיב לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד עַל שְׁאֵלָתוֹ בִּפְרָטוּת, וְגַם הַשִּׁכְחָה מְצוּיָה. [The subjects of] some of [these discourses] are hinted to the wise, in the sacred epistles of our teachers21Rabbi Schneur Zalman regarded some of his senior colleagues, the disciples of R. Dov Ber of Miezricz (among whom he himself was the youngest) as his “teachers,” esp. R. Mendel Horodoker. in the Holy Land, may it be built and established speedily in our days, Amen; some of them I have heard from their saintly mouth when they were here with us; and all of them are responsa to many questions which all our faithful in our country have constantly asked, seeking advice, each according to his station, so as to receive moral guidance in the service of G–d, since time no longer permits of replying to everyone individually and in detail on his particular problem. Furthermore, forgetfulness is common.
עַל כֵּן רָשַׁמְתִּי כָּל הַתְּשׁוּבוֹת עַל כָּל הַשְּׁאֵלוֹת לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת לְאוֹת, לִהְיוֹת לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְזִכָּרוֹן בֵּין עֵינָיו וְלֹא יִדְחוֹק עוֹד לִיכָּנֵס לְדַבֵּר עִמִּי בִּיחִידוּת, כִּי בָּהֶן יִמְצָא מַרְגּוֹעַ לְנַפְשׁוֹ וְעֵצָה נְכוֹנָה לְכָל דָּבָר הַקָּשֶׁה עָלָיו בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה׳, וְנָכוֹן יִהְיֶה לִבּוֹ בָּטוּחַ בַּה׳ גּוֹמֵר בַּעֲדֵינוּ: I have, therefore, recorded all the replies to all the questions, to be preserved as a signpost and to serve as a visual reminder for each and every person, so that he will no longer press for admission to private conference with me. For in these [responsa] he will find peace for his soul and true counsel on every matter that he finds difficult in the service of G–d. His heart will thus be firmly secured in the L–rd, Who completes everything for us.
וּמִי שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ קְצָרָה לְהָבִין דְּבַר עֵצָה מִתּוֹךְ קוּנְטְרֵיסִים אֵלּוּ, יְפָרֵשׁ שִׂיחָתוֹ לִפְנֵי הַגְּדוֹלִים שֶׁבְּעִירוֹ וְהֵם יְבוֹנְנוּהוּ. וַאֲלֵיהֶם בַּקָּשָׁתִי, שֶׁלֹּא לָשׂוּם יָד לָפֶה לְהִתְנַהֵג בַּעֲנָוָה וְשִׁפְלוּת שֶׁל שֶׁקֶר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְכַנּוֹדָע עוֹנֶשׁ הַמַּר עַל מוֹנֵעַ בָּר, וְגוֹדֶל הַשָּׂכָר – מִמַּאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה עַל פָּסוּק ״מֵאִיר עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם ה׳״, כִּי יָאִיר ה׳ פָּנָיו אֲלֵיהֶם, אוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים. וּמְחַיֶּה חַיִּים יְזַכֵּנוּ וִיחַיֵּינוּ לַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר ״לֹא יְלַמְּדוּ עוֹד אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ וְגוֹ׳ כִּי כוּלָּם יֵדְעוּ אוֹתִי וְגוֹ׳ כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה׳ וְגוֹ׳״, אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן: As for him whose mind falls short in the understanding of the counsel given in these kuntresim, let him discuss his problem with the foremost scholars of his town, and they will elucidate it for him. And I beg of them not to lay their hand on their mouth to conduct themselves with false meekness and humility, G–d forbid. It is known what bitter punishment is his who withholds food [i.e., knowledge], and the greatness of the reward [in the opposite case], from the Rabbinic teaching22Temurah 16a. relating to the Scriptural text, “The L–rd lightens the eyes of them both,”23Proverbs 29:13. for G–d will cause His face to shine upon them, with the light of the Countenance of the King, [the Source of] life. May the Giver of life to the living make us worthy to live to see the days when “no longer shall one man instruct the other…for all shall know Me…,”24Jeremiah 31:33. “for the world shall be full of the knowledge of G–d…,”25Isaiah 11:9. Amen. May this be His will.
וְהִנֵּה, אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְפַּשְּׁטוּ הַקּוּנְטְרֵיסִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל, בְּקֶרֶב כָּל אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל, בְּהַעְתָּקוֹת רַבּוֹת מִידֵי סוֹפְרִים שׁוֹנִים וּמְשׁוּנִּים, הִנֵּה עַל יְדֵי רִיבּוּי הַהַעְתָּקוֹת שׁוֹנוֹת, רַבּוּ כְּמוֹ רַבּוּ הַטָּעוּיּוֹת־סוֹפְרִים בִּמְאוֹד מְאוֹד, וְלָזֹאת, נָדְבָה רוּחָם שֶׁל אֲנָשִׁים אֶפְרָתִים הַנְּקוּבִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל מֵעֵבֶר לַדַּף, לִטְרוֹחַ בְּגוּפָם וּמְאוֹדָם לְהָבִיא אֶת קוּנְטְרֵיסִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל לְבֵית הַדְּפוּס מְנוּקִּים מִכָּל סִיג וְטָעוּיּוֹת־סוֹפְרִים וּמוּגָּהִים הֵיטֵב, וְאֲמִינָא לְפָעֲלָא טָבָא יִישַׁר חֵילָא. Since the said kuntresim have been disseminated among all our faithful, as mentioned above, by means of numerous transcriptions by the hands of various and sundry scribes, the multitude of transcriptions brought about an exceedingly great number of copyists’ errors. Therefore the spirits of the noble men, named on another page, have generously moved them to a personal and financial effort to have the said kuntresim published, cleared of chaff and errors, and thoroughly checked. I congratulate them on this worthy deed.
וְלִהְיוֹת כִּי מִקְרָא מָלֵא דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב ״אָרוּר מַסִּיג גְּבוּל רֵעֵהוּ״, וְאָרוּר – בּוֹ קְלָלָה בּוֹ נִידּוּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם וְכוּ׳, עַל כֵּן, כִּיהוּדָה וְעוֹד לִקְרָא קָאֲתֵינָא – לְמִשְׁדֵּי גּוּדָא רַבָּא עַל כָּל הַמַּדְפִּיסִים, שֶׁלֹּא לְהַדְפִּיס קוּנְטְרֵיסִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל, לֹא עַל יְדֵי עַצְמָן וְלֹא עַל יְדֵי גִּירָא דִילְהוֹן, בִּלְתִּי רְשׁוּת הַנְּקוּבִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל מֶשֶׁךְ חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים מִיּוֹם כְּלוֹת הַדְּפוּס. וְלַשּׁוֹמְעִים יוּנְעַם, וְתָבוֹא עֲלֵיהֶם בִּרְכַּת טוֹב. And inasmuch as there is an explicit verse, “Cursed be he who removes his neighbor’s landmark”26Deuteronomy 27:17.—and “cursed” includes both damnation and shunning,27Shevuot 36a. G–d forbid—therefore, “like Judah and Scripture in addition”28Kiddushin 6a. I come to invoke a strict prohibition on all publishers against printing the said kuntresim, either themselves or through their agency without the authority of the above-named, for a period of five years from the day that this printing is completed. And it will be well with those who conform, and they will be blessed with good.
כֹּה דִּבְרֵי הַמְלַקֵּט לִיקּוּטֵי אֲמָרִים הַנִּזְכָּרִים לְעֵיל: These are the words of the compiler of the said Likkutei Amarim.