In the following letter, the Rebbe underlines the need to institute the thorough study of Chassidus in yeshivot, especially when considering the deteriorating spiritual state of society today:
...I will utilize this opportunity, relying on the saying of our Sages that “we only urge enthusiasm on the enthusiastic,” to encourage you regarding something that is well-known and obvious: the necessity for every yeshiva and educational institution to exercise immense effort to instill yirat shamayim (fear of Heaven) in their students; not only by means of supervising their behavior, but also through appropriate studies. Being that the nature of a yeshiva student is to seek an explanation for everything and not just accept it as a command, they must be taught appropriately in this regard. In fact, all yeshivot have agreed to institute the study of either Mussar or Chassidus.
One of the differences between the study of Mussar and Chassidus (with regards to the abovementioned issue) is: Mussar, in general, subordinates and therefore constricts [the spirit of] the student, whereas Chassidus elevates the person and causes expansiveness in him (although there are obviously some aspects of Mussar that lead to joy and expansiveness, and some aspects of Chassidus that lead to submission and constriction).
Another advantage of Chassidus is that it is more likely to lead a person to love and fear of Hashem. As is explained in Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah, the way to achieve love and fear of Hashem is by meditating [upon His greatness], etc.
As one upon whom Heaven has granted the merit of being a rosh mesivta, influential over many young men and yeshiva students, you were certainly also given the ability to carry this out, in accordance with current needs, to influence those who are under your wing; to draw them towards the study of Chassidus.
It is certainly unnecessary to explain to someone like you that although some generations ago it was possible for a yeshiva to suffice without any study of Mussar, since even the streets were G-d-fearing, yet the situation has changed in the last two generations. Undesirable “winds” blow around the world and have penetrated the walls of the yeshiva as well. As a result, the study of Mussar was introduced into the yeshiva curriculum.
And our generation is even more different, in that there is a doubled and redoubled darkness, deeming the study of Mussar alone insufficient. Every Torah scholar is now required to learn pnimiyut HaTorah (the inner dimensions of Torah), which is referred to in the Zohar as the “soul” of the Torah, in order to protect his study of nigleh d’Torah (revealed dimensions of Torah). This will enable the youth of this generation to achieve love and fear of Hashem, as explained above.
As the famous statement of the Arizal asserts, that specifically in our generation it’s a mitzvah to reveal this wisdom (referring to pnimiyut HaTorah)....
reprinted from Derher
