Extremely important and lengthy (over 700 words!) Kabbalistic-Chassidic letter handwritten by one of the patriarchs of Chassidut and leading Admo”rim of the Jewish people, the gaon Rabbi Avraham Weinberg (I), founder of Slonim Chassidut and author of the famous book on Chassidism Yesod HaAvodah , by whose name he is known. Two densely written pages [Slonim, 1871].
Aside from the important Kabbalistic content that appears in the letter, as will be expanded upon below, there is additional and segulah importance to this letter before us, in which the Yesod HaAvodah blesses – in his hand – at the beginning of the letter and at its conclusion, the immortal blessing for wealth: “Every year that is poor at its beginning becomes rich at its end.” Page 1, line 2, “The Jewish people that is broken – will be wealthy in the end;” page 2, second-last line, “will become wealthy in its entire body in the end” and the Rebbe concludes with a blessing: “Please, Hashem, send salvation for the distant and near future.”
In the manuscript before us, the Yesod HaAvodah deals with one of the most mysterious subjects in Judaism and in general – the elusive connection between body and soul. The interaction between the spiritual and the physical, how they influence each other and what physiological processes occur in our bodies as a result of spiritual activities we undertake. Great philosophers grappled and wrestled with this topic and did not come to a conclusion. In contrast, the great Kabbalists, led by Rabbi Chaim Vital in the name of the Ar”i – also dealt with this topic and set certain rules, such as that the physical mind is where the spiritual soul dwells, the heart is the dwelling place of the spirit, and liver, of the essential self. Yet even Kabbalists who dealt with this, as Rabbi Chaim Vital himself states, ‘revealed an inch and covered two thousand yards.’ This is not for naught, as these matters descend to the root of Creation and they themselves are “Ma’aseh Bereishit, ” about which it is stated that they are not taught in public and not revealed except to the humble.
Yet the Yesod HaAvodah, in accordance with Chassidic tradition (the Besh”t, the Ba’al HaTanya and others) advocated the accessibility of the hidden Torah even in matters that have been considered “secret” for thousands of years. In the manuscript before us, the Yesod HaAvodah reveals hidden details of the interaction between body and soul, even more than what was revealed by Chassidic leaders before him. The physiological processes that occur in a person’s body when he sins, and which limbs are dominant in the process of repentance. Important, interesting letter.
The Admo”r Rabbi Avraham Weinberg, author of Yesod HaAvodah [1804-1884] was one of the leading Admo”rs of all generations, founder of Slonim Chassidism and leading disciple of Rabbi Noach of Lechovich and Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin. He authored and wrote many works, some Kabbalistic. His important work Yesod HaAvodah is counted among the very few Chassidic works not written according to the weekly Torah portion, but as an orderly study elucidating principles of Torah and Chassidism. His books include: Yesod HaAvodah , Be’er Avraham , Chessed L’Avraham and others. The letter before us was printed in his book Yesod HaAvodah , with the addition of several lines at the beginning and the end that do not appear in the manuscript before us.
[2] pp, approximately 17×20 cm. Ink on paper. Entirely handwritten by the Yesod HaAvodah.
Fine condition. Faded writing. Fold marks. Professional restoration.