Friday, October 26, 2007

A Chasidishe Yeshiva

Translation of the letter posted on Tzig. I've tried to keep the nuances of the original, although they would not be present in a translation to true and usable English:

Your honor must 'feed' all that which is needed in our desire for the institution of Toras Emes, and they are two general [desires]. The first the material of the institution, which divides to two: the first is 'feeding' the grounds (in which there are many details) to correct that which needs rectification, and to see to it that the rectification be done properly and in the cheap, to rent out the [unused] houses and that the renters pay on time, and the grounds should be kept well cleaned, and to minimize as much as possible free houses (meaning to take houses for free, or even for things that are for the good of the institution but could be accomplished otherwise, and the houses will be left unoccupied and will be able to bring in some profit).

And the second is running the expenses of the instiution the Yeshiva Toras Emes, which is divided to two. The first the account of Chevron - may it be built and reestablished - and in this many details, the first detail the expenses of the students, what we need to pay to each one every month, the second detail the general expenses such as trips, postage etc. (each one separately in a unique account), for farbrengen, laundry etc., the detail of paying 3 people, such as your salary and the salary of the scribe, the fourth detail salaries for the Beit Knesset of Avraham Avinu - on him lies peace - meaning what we need to spent on this to guard the enactments in truth for the uplifting of the souls of the fellows etc. and that this should not be neglected Chas VeShalom and Chas VeShalom, the second the account of the branch in Yerushalayim, how much per month and to who in detail and in detailed detail.

The second the spirit of the institution Toras Emes in Chevron and Yerushalayim, to raise the 'horn' of Torah according to the instruction of the teachings of Chasidus in all the details, in the study of Torah and the struggle of prayer, and it should be recognizable in them all day in their thoughts, speech and action that they are enagaged in the Torah of Hashem, not simply it grumbles in the stomach as with a Misnaged who stuffs himself with a few pages of Gemara, and for 400 Parsa it stinks of him, or as a Poilisher Chossid who is whole and happy that he walks about a fresh and healthy [man] in G-d's garden as a titled nobleman.

They should only go in the path of the Chasidim of Reisin who distanced themselves from the materialism of the Misnagdim and the empty excitement of the Chasidim of Poland, but they set their hearts and selves in the assiduous task of the teachings of Chasidus (and in the revealed [Torah] as well, as is known that most of the great Chasidim were wondrously great, and of them great in the revealed Torah, as they are in truth compatible, and not as the opinion of the wild Chabad Chasidim who make as if there are two Torah's etc. but the revealed was connected, attached and glued with the teachings of Chasidus and therefore the foremost revealed and seen was the teachings of Chasidus) and they brought themselves to a great connection and devotion in the service of Tefilah through the preparation of the advice of Chasidus, which is the concept of contemplation and study before prayer as is known.

And in this path you should educate and accustom your students, and in this path will dwell the light of the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov Za'L of which our honorable and holy our great Rebbe - the memory of a Tzaddik and holy one is a blessing for the life of the world to come - removed the sun from its sheath and revealed to us the G-dly pleasure, and following him the honorable holy our ancestors our Rebbes the holy ones - the memory of Tzaddikim and holy ones is a blessing for the life of the world to come, their souls are in the treasury above - and all rivers, the rivers of the founts of wisdom, flow to the sea, which is our honorable and holy, my father my master my teacher and Rebbe, the Rav the holy may he live long good days, who collected and gathered and harvested the sparks of the G-dly light of the G-dly flame, and he set them in the settings of wisdom, understanding and knowledge, to satisfy the 'trees' of Hashem that he planted in the garden of G-d "Tomchei Tmimim" and to all who Hashem has graced with wisdom to receive this portion etc.

Is it not that with our eyes it is seen and with our ears it is heard that the concepts of delicate thought flow from the source of wisdom, and to understand them (even now, after they are clarified with G-dly knowledge) additional deep thought and wondrous penetrating thought is needed in its kind. Not in one time and not in three will these be understood, and all who add to them explanation and ideas only detracts from the truth, only one should place the mind and devotion in the 'body' and actual wisdom and to purify ones ideas and thought, and then will these words be understood. That all this is for us a testifying witness how the concept of study of the teachings of Chasidus should be.

1 comment:

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

I just realized I never thanked you for it.

Thanks!