Weekly Letter: The Soul Which Is Eternal
In connection with the death of the sons of Aharon, at the beginning of this week’s parsha, we share the Rebbe’s letter of comfort written to parents who recently lost their child.
By the Grace of G-d
12 of Elul, 5730
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs.
Jerusalem
I have just received the shocking news of the passing of your son, m.h.s.r.i.p. I extend to you and to all the bereaved family the traditional and meaningful expression of condolence –
ha’Mokom yenachem eschem b’soch sh’ar aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim
Our Sages of blessed memory have already remarked about the difficulty of comforting a person in the hour of his sorrow. Nevertheless a few words are called for.
No human being can, of course, understand the ways of G-d, since it is beyond the capacity of a created being to understand the Creator. Knowing your family and background, it is surely unnecessary to dwell on this at length.
On the other hand, G-d has revealed certain insights into His Providence. On the basis of what is explained in our Torah, called Torat Emet and at the same time Torat Chayim, because it is our guide in life on this earth, the following points should be borne in mind:
A fatal accident and the like can only affect the union of the soul with the body, and the body, but not the soul which is eternal.
The attachment, affection and closeness which one person feels towards another are not created by, nor directed to, the physical aspects of the body or the body itself, for these are only the tangible media through which one soul can come into contact with another in this terrestrial life. The essential thing of a person is his soul and spiritual attributes, which, as above, is eternal.
From this it follows immediately that the change brought about by death is only in regard to the ways and means of maintaining the attachment with the dear soul but in no way affects the relationship, except that the dear departed is now in the World of Truth, in a spiritual state, free from the physical and material limitations and handicaps. In other words, while previously, in this world, perception was by means of the physical senses of sight, hearing, etc. it is now aware of those left behind in this world in a more direct way, without the physical aids.
Consequently, every good deed which is done for the zechut of the departed is a source of both gratification and elevation to the dear soul.
In this connection, and since your son’s intention was to learn in a yeshivah, I would particularly suggest that you take upon yourselves the upkeep of a yeshivah bachur, so that he can learn G-d’s Torah without distraction.
May G-d, the Comforter of Zion, and Builder of Jerusalem, truly comfort you as He will truly comfort the Mourners for Zion and Jerusalem, and make up to you with an extra measure of true Yiddish nachas from your children and grandchildren. On your part, you will surely strengthen your bitachon in G-d and adherence to His Will in the daily life.
Especially as we are now in the month of Mercy, the significance of which has been emphasized by the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch, by means of an illustration: When a king is on his way to his capital and palace, the people come out to greet him outside the city. There, in the field, everyone has an opportunity to greet the king personally and present a petition to him, and the king is gracious and fulfills everyone’s request. Such is the month of Elul when G-d, the King of Kings, is, as it were, in the field, very accessible and very gracious.
With blessing,
