Weekly Letter: The Unity Pervading Through Nature

This week, for Shabbos Bereishis, we present a letter from the Rebbe on the creation of the world – bringing out “the unity pervading in nature.” The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s personal trusted secretary, Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

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By the Grace of G-d

21st of Sivan, 5725

Mr.

Philadelphia, Pa.

Greeting and Blessing:

Thank you for your letter in which you write about your research project, inviting my comment.

At the risk of not sounding very “scientific” to you, I nevertheless wish to express my hope that you will apply also your research work to good advantage in the service of G-d, in accord with the principle, Know him in all thy ways.” Indeed, the discoveries in the natural science have thrown new light on the wonders of Creation, and the modern trend has consequently been towards the recognition of the unity pervading nature .In fact, with every advancement in science the underlying unity in the physical world has become more clearly discernable; so much so, that science is now searching for the ideal formula which would comprise all the phenomena of the physical world in one comprehensive equation. With a little further insight it can be seen that the unity in nature is the reflection of true monotheism in its Jewish concept. For, as we Jews conceive of monotheism, it is not merely the belief that there is only One G-d, but that G-d’s Unity transcends also the physical world, so that there is only one reality‚ namely G-d.  To be sure, creation included a multiplicity and diversity in nature – insofar as the created beings themselves are concerned, but these do not affect any change in the Creator, as explained at length in Chassidut.

With Blessing,

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The above letter is from The Letter and the Spirit by Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP).

These letters were written originally in English and were prepared for publication by Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, whose responsibility it was the Rebbe’s correspondence in English and several other languages.

We thank Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro, who was entrusted by his father-in-law Rabbi Mindel with his archives and who is Director of the Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP), for making the Rebbe’s letters available to the wider public. May the merit of the many stand him in good stead.