In this letter, the Alter Rebbe continues developing a theme that has appeared throughout Iggeret HaKodesh:
A person’s mercy toward others awakens Divine mercy toward himself.
But here he goes further and explains both the immediate rewards of tzedakah and its connection to the ultimate future revelation at the time of the Resurrection.
- Human Mercy Awakens Divine Mercy
The letter opens with a principle:
“איתערותא דלתתא” גורמת “איתערותא דלעילא“
When a person awakens compassion in his own heart for those who need help, Heaven responds measure for measure.
Hashem arouses:
“רחמים רבים ממקור הרחמים“
abundant mercy from the Source of Mercy.
- Two Rewards: “Peirot” and “Keren”
The Alter Rebbe refers to the teaching that tzedakah yields:
- Peirot (fruits) in this world.
- Keren (principal) in the World to Come.
He explains these terms.
Peirot
The “fruits” are the blessings that become manifest in this world.
The Divine flow descends through all the spiritual worlds until it appears in practical forms such as:
- Children
- Health
- Livelihood
The classic categories of:
“בני, חיי, ומזוני“
- What Is the “Keren”?
The “principal” is something much greater.
The Alter Rebbe quotes:
“רחבה מצותך מאד“
and explains that the singular form:
“מצותך“
refers specifically to tzedakah.
Why?
Because tzedakah most closely resembles what Hashem Himself does constantly:
sustaining and giving life to all creation.
- Tzedakah Reveals the Infinite
The Alter Rebbe explains that tzedakah is not merely another mitzvah.
It serves as a pathway through which the Divine light that transcends the worlds can become revealed.
By practicing kindness below,
a person draws down a revelation of:
“סובב כל עלמין“
the transcendent Divine light above all worlds.
- The Ultimate Revelation Is Not Gan Eden
A key theme of this letter is the distinction between:
Gan Eden
and
Techiyat HaMeitim (Resurrection of the Dead)
At first glance one might think Gan Eden is the highest reward.
The Alter Rebbe says that is not so.
- What Is Gan Eden?
The pleasure of Gan Eden comes from:
Understanding and perceiving Godliness.
The souls delight in the truths of Torah that they learned during their earthly lives.
Gan Eden is therefore fundamentally:
A revelation that can be grasped and understood.
- Why Is Gan Eden Limited?
Because the revelation in Gan Eden comes from:
“ממלא כל עלמין“
the Divine light that enters and becomes adapted to each world and each soul.
Since it is tailored to the recipient,
it operates through measure and limitation.
Each soul receives according to its capacity.
- What Will Happen at the Resurrection?
The revelation of Techiyat HaMeitim will be far greater.
Then the Divine light revealed will come from:
“סובב כל עלמין“
the transcendent Divine light.
Unlike the revelation of Gan Eden:
- It is not limited by the recipient’s capacity.
- It is not measured according to intellectual comprehension.
- It transcends the entire chain of spiritual worlds.
- Why Even Great Souls Will Return to Bodies
The Alter Rebbe points out something remarkable.
Even the greatest souls:
- Prophets
- Tannaim
- Tzaddikim
who are now enjoying the highest revelations in Gan Eden,
will nevertheless return to physical bodies at the resurrection.
Why?
Because the revelation available then will surpass anything they currently experience in Gan Eden.
- The Connection to Tzedakah
The entire discussion returns to the opening point.
Tzedakah is unique because it reflects Hashem’s own constant giving of life.
Therefore it draws down not only ordinary blessing, but ultimately connects a person to that boundless Divine revelation that will be fully revealed in the future.
Key Takeaway
The Alter Rebbe teaches that acts of mercy awaken Divine mercy. Tzedakah brings practical blessings (“the fruits”) into this world, but its deeper reward (“the principal”) is connection to an infinite Divine revelation. Gan Eden provides a measured revelation of Godliness that the soul can understand, whereas the future resurrection will reveal an unlimited Divine light transcending all worlds. Through tzedakah, a person connects himself to that future revelation already now.