## Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh

###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:1
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:1)

לאנשי קהלת וכו׳

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
**SIXTEEN.** *To the members of the community of…*


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:2
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:2)

**אֲהוּבַיי,** אַחַיי וְרֵעַיי אֲשֶׁר כְּנַפְשִׁי! הִנֵּה, לֹא נֶעְלַם מִמֶּנִּי צוֹק הָעִתִּים, אֲשֶׁר נִתְדַּלְדְּלָה הַפַּרְנָסָה, וּבִפְרָט הַיְדוּעִים לִי מִמַּחֲנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר מָטָה יָדָם בְּלִי שׁוּם מַשְׁעֵן וּמַשְׁעֵנָה, וּמַמָּשׁ לוֹוִים וְאוֹכְלִים, ה׳ יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם וְיַרְחִיב לָהֶם בַּצַּר בְּקָרוֹב.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
My beloved, my brethren and friends, who are (to me) as my (own) soul. Behold, I am aware¹ of the hardships of these times, that the means for livelihood have declined, and especially among those known to me from your ranks whose hand has wavered; (they are) without any assistance and support, and they literally borrow in order to eat. May the L–rd show them compassion and speedily bring them respite from their straits.²

footnotes:
¹ Lit.: the hardships of the times are not concealed from me.
² Lit.: and broaden (a space) for them in the straits (cf. Psalms 4:2; 118:5).


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:3
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:3)

וְעִם כָּל זֶה, לֹא טוֹב הֵם עוֹשִׂים לְנַפְשָׁם, לְפִי הַנִּשְׁמַע, אֲשֶׁר קָפְצוּ יָדָם הַפְּתוּחָה מֵעוֹדָם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, לִיתֵּן בְּיָד מְלֵאָה וְעַיִן יָפָה לְכָל הִצְטָרְכוּת הַהֶכְרֵחִיִים לְדֵי מַחְסוֹרֵי הָאֶבְיוֹנִים נְקִיִּים, אֲשֶׁר עֵינֵיהֶם נְשׂוּאוֹת אֵלֵינוּ, וְאִם אָנוּ לֹא נְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, מִי יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם? וְחֵי אָחִיךָ עִמָּךְ כְּתִיב!

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
Nonetheless, they are not acting rightly unto their soul according to the reports that they close their hand which all their life long, to this very day, was open to give with a full hand and benevolence toward all essential necessities to satisfy the needs of the innocent destitutes whose eyes are lifted toward us.³ If, Heaven forfend, we will not have mercy on them, who then will show them compassion? And it is written: “That your brother may live with you!”⁴

footnotes:
³ Par. Deuteronomy 15:7, 8, and Jeremiah 2:34.
⁴ Leviticus 25:36. See the commentaries by Nachmanides and R. Ovadia Seforno, ad loc.


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:4
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:4)

וְלֹא אָמְרוּ ״חַיֶּיךָ קוֹדְמִין״, אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁ״בְּיַד אֶחָד קִיתּוֹן שֶׁל מַיִם וְכוּ׳״, שֶׁהוּא דָּבָר הַשָּׁוֶה לִשְׁנֵיהֶם בְּשָׁוֶה לִשְׁתּוֹת לְהָשִׁיב נַפְשָׁם בַּצָּמָא. אֲבָל אִם הֶעָנִי צָרִיךְ לֶחֶם לְפִי הַטַּף וְעֵצִים וּכְסוּת בַּקָּרָה וּכְהַאי גַּוְנָא, כָּל דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ קוֹדְמִין לְכָל מַלְבּוּשֵׁי כָבוֹד וְזֶבַח מִשְׁפָּחָה בָּשָׂר וְדָגִים וְכָל מַטְעַמִּים שֶׁל הָאָדָם וְכָל בְּנֵי בֵיתוֹ, וְלֹא שַׁיָּיךְ בָּזֶה ״חַיֶּיךָ קוֹדְמִין״, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵינָן חַיֵּי נֶפֶשׁ מַמָּשׁ כְּמוֹ שֶׁל הֶעָנִי, שָׁוֶה בְּשָׁוֶה מַמָּשׁ, כִּדְאִיתָא בִּנְדָרִים דַּף פ׳.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
(The rule that) “Your life takes precedence”⁵ 62a, in comment on Leviticus 25:36 (“that your brother may live with you”—thus: your own life takes precedence). applies only in the case when “one has a pitcher of water…,”⁶ that is, when the same thing is equally essential to both to drink in order to restore their soul from thirst. But when the poor needs bread for the mouths of babes, and wood and clothes against the cold, and the like, then all these take precedence over any fine clothes and family feasts, meat and fish, and all the delicacies of man and any members of his household. The rule that “your life takes precedence” does not apply in such a case, because all these⁷ are not really essential to life, as are (the needs) of the poor, (to be considered) truly equal (to the needs of the poor),⁸ as mentioned in *Nedarim*, folio 80.⁹ 80b. See also *Tosefta*, *Bava Metzia* 11:14; Jerusalem Talmud, *Shevi’it* 8:5 and *Nedarim* 11:1.

footnotes:
⁵ Bava Metzia
⁶ See ibid.
⁷ The luxuries of the wealthy.
⁸ Needs, therefore, take precedence to luxuries.
⁹ Nedarim


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:5
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:5)

וְהִנֵּה, זֶהוּ עַל פִּי שׁוּרַת הַדִּין גָּמוּר. אֲבָל בֶּאֱמֶת, גַּם אִם הוּא עִנְיָן דְּלֹא שַׁיָּיךְ כָּל כָּךְ הַאי טַעֲמָא רָאוּי לְכָל אָדָם שֶׁלֹּא לְדַקְדֵּק לְהַעֲמִיד עַל הַדִּין, רַק לִדְחוֹק חַיָּיו וְלִיכָּנֵס לִפְנַי וְלִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין, וְלִדְאוֹג לְעַצְמוֹ מִמַּאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה, שֶׁכָּל הַמְדַקְדֵּק בְּכָךְ – סוֹף בָּא לִידֵי כָךְ, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
Now, (all) this is according to the strict measure of the law. In fact, however, even in the case where such reasoning does not apply, it behooves everyone not to be particular in insisting on the law, but to set aside his own life and to go far beyond the measure of the law. One should be concerned, for his own sake, with the statement of our Sages, of blessed memory, that he who is exacting in a matter “will eventually be brought to it,”¹⁰ 33a; see the commentaries by Rashi and *Maharsha*, ad loc. See also *Tosefta*, *Bava Metzia* 11:14, and the comment. *Minchat Bikurim*, ad loc. Heaven forfend.

footnotes:
¹⁰ Bava Metzia


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:6
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:6)

וְגַם, כִּי כּוּלָּנוּ צְרִיכִים לְרַחֲמֵי שָׁמַיִם בְּכָל עֵת, בְּאִתְעָרוּתָא דִלְתַתָּא דַּוְקָא בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה, לְעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֵינוּ עַל הַצְּרִיכִים לְרַחֲמִים, וְכָל הַמְאַמֵּץ לְבָבוֹ וְכוֹבֵשׁ רַחֲמָיו, יִהְיֶה מֵאֵיזֶה טַעַם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה – גּוֹרֵם כָּךְ לְמַעְלָה, לִכְבּוֹשׁ וְכוּ׳ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
And, after all, all of us need, at all times, the mercies of Heaven, which are (elicited) only through an arousal from below, by arousing at all times, and every moment, our compassion for those who are in need of compassion. But he who hardens his heart and suppresses his compassion [for whatever reason there may be], he causes the same above—to suppress…,¹¹ 1:7. Heaven forfend.

footnotes:
¹¹ Cf. Mishnah, Sotah


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:7
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:7)

וּמַה גַּם, ״כִּי אָדָם אֵין צַדִּיק בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה טּוֹב – תָּמִיד – וְלֹא יֶחֱטָא״, וְהַצְּדָקָה מְכַפֶּרֶת וּמְגִינָּה מִן הַפּוּרְעָנוּת וְכוּ׳, וְלָזֹאת הִיא רְפוּאַת הַגּוּף וְנֶפֶשׁ מַמָּשׁ, אֲשֶׁר ״עוֹר בְּעַד עוֹר וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לָאִישׁ יִתֵּן בְּעַד נַפְשׁוֹ״.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
(One should especially consider that) after all, “There is not a righteous person upon earth that does good—always—and does not sin,”¹² and charity atones¹³ 5:3 (cf. *Sukkah* 49b). See also *Sefer Chassidim*, sect. 61 and 170; *Netivot Olam*, s.v. גמ”ח, beg. of ch. 1 and ibid., s.v. *Tzedakah*, end of ch. 4. Cf. *Iggeret Hateshuvah*, ch. 3. and protects against misfortune….¹⁴ 27:1. (Charity) thus is an actual cure for the body and soul,¹⁵ 41:4; *Tanchuma*, *Mishpatim* 15. with respect to which—“Skin for skin, and all that a man has he will give for his *nefesh*.”¹⁶

footnotes:
¹² Ecclesiastes 7:20.
¹³ See Devarim Rabbah
¹⁴ See Vayikra Rabbah
¹⁵ Cf. Midrash Tehillim
¹⁶ Soul, or life.—Job 2:4. Cf. above, Epistle 10 (note 49).


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:8
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:8)

בְּשֶׁגַּם, אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים בְּנֵי מַאֲמִינִים, כִּי הַצְּדָקָה, אֵינָהּ רַק הַלְוָאָה לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, כְּדִכְתִיב: ״מַלְוֵה ה׳ חוֹנֵן דָל, וּגְמוּלוֹ יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ״ בְּכִפְלַיִים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, דִּשְׂכַר כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת לֵיכָּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, לְבַד מִצְּדָקָה, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא טוֹב לַבְּרִיּוֹת, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּקִדּוּשִׁין סוֹף פֶּרֶק קַמָּא.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
This applies especially as we are believers, the descendants of believers¹⁷ 97a. (in the fact) that charity is nothing but a loan to the Holy One, blessed is He,¹⁸, end of 10a; see *Rashi* and *Chiddushei Aggadot* by *Maharal*, ad loc., and *Netivot Olam*, s.v. *Tzedakah*, ch. 4. See also *Tanchuma*, *Mishpatim* 15. as it is written: “He who is gracious to the poor lends to the L–rd, and He will repay him his good deed”¹⁹—manifold, in this world.²⁰ For none of the commandments is the reward given in this world except for charity, because it is beneficial to the creatures, as mentioned at the end of the first chapter of *Kiddushin*.²¹ 39b-40a (see *Rashi*, s.v. Rabbi Idi).

footnotes:
¹⁷ Shabbat
¹⁸ Bava Batra
¹⁹ Proverbs 19:17.
²⁰ See note following.
²¹ Kiddushin


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:9
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:9)

וְגַם יֵשׁ לָחוּשׁ לְעוֹנֶשׁ, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּשֶׁחֲבֵרָיו נִמְנִים לִדְבַר מִצְוָה וְהוּא לֹא נִמְנֶה עִמָּהֶם, כַּנּוֹדָע מִמַּאֲמַר רַבּוֹתֵינוּ־זִכְרוֹנָם־לִבְרָכָה.

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
Also, one should be concerned about punishment, Heaven forfend, when one’s companions are associated for the sake of a *mitzvah* and he is not associated with them, as known from the words of our Sages, of blessed memory.²² 9b.

footnotes:
²² Chagigah


###### Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:10
[Tanya, Part IV; Iggeret HaKodesh 16:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tanya/s/Part%20IV%3B%20Iggeret%20HaKodesh/r/16:10)

וְלַשּׁוֹמְעִים יוּנְעַם, וְתָבוֹא עֲלֵיהֶם בִּרְכַּת טוֹב, בְּכָל מִילֵּי דְמֵיטַב, הֵטִיבָה ה׳ לַטּוֹבִים וִישָׁרִים, כְּנַפְשָׁם וְנֶפֶשׁ הַדּוֹרֵשׁ שְׁלוֹמָם מִכָּל לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ:

**Kehot Publication Society (English Translation):**
But it will be well with those who give heed, and upon them shall come the blessing of goodness²³—“of the best of all things.” Do good, O L–rd, to the good and the upright,²⁴ as is their wish and the wish of he who seeks their welfare, from the whole heart and soul.

footnotes:
²³ Par. Proverbs 24:25.
²⁴ Psalms 125:4.