Editing Mesechtas Chagigah (section)

== The Rebbe's Explanations ==
The masechet also brings the story of Elisha ben Avuyah, who turned to evil ways. When he came before the Heavenly court, they ruled that he would enter neither Gan Eden nor Gehinom. His student, the Tanna Rabbi Meir, was not satisfied with this ruling, and believed it would be better for Acher (Elisha's nickname after he became a heretic) to be in Gehinom, so that afterward he would merit the immense pleasure of Gan Eden. When Rabbi Meir passed away, smoke began to rise consistently from Elisha ben Avuyah's grave. Rabbi Yochanan, however, was not satisfied with this ruling either, and believed that Rabbi Meir should have acted to save Elisha from the judgment of Gehinom altogether, and indeed when he passed away, the smoke ceased to rise from Elisha ben Avuyah's grave.

From this, the Tzemach Tzedek learns that the pleasure in Gan Eden is immeasurably great. For as is known, the sufferings of Gehinom are most severe, to the extent that it is said that it is preferable to suffer the afflictions of Iyov for seventy years in this world, rather than suffer for one moment the torments of Gehinom. Nevertheless, it was worthwhile for Acher to suffer for a very long time - from the time of Rabbi Meir's passing until the time of Rabbi Yochanan's passing - and this is in contrast to the pleasures of this world, for which it is not customary to agree to receive suffering. And all this is for the pleasures of the lower Gan Eden, to which Elisha ben Avuyah was elevated, and the difference between the lower Gan Eden and the upper Gan Eden is as great as the difference between the lower Gan Eden and this world.

==== Additional Explanations ====

* '''2a'''. Beit Shammai says the re'iyah offering is two silver coins and the chagigah offering is one silver coin, etc. Sichot Kodesh 5731 Vol. 2.
* '''4a.''' Chinuch d'rabbanan. Likutei Sichot Vol. 35 p. 61 (p. 75)
* '''10a.''' One who separates from Gemara to Mishnah. Likutei Sichot Vol. 16 p. 2 note 12 (p. 17)
* '''10b.''' We do not derive matters of Torah from matters of Kabbalah. Likutei Sichot Vol. 38 p. 120 note 47 (p. 132)
* '''13b.''' Why Yechezkel is compared to a villager who saw the king, and why Yeshayah is compared to a city-dweller who saw the king. Sichot Vol. 33, Sicha 1 for Shavuot, p. 29
* '''18a.''' The incident when Alexa died in Lod. Likutei Sichot Vol. 28 p. 24 (36)
* '''26a.''' Trustworthiness of an am ha'aretz during the festival. Likutei Sichot Vol. 37 Parshat Shemini
* '''26b.''' All vessels that were in the Temple require immersion, except for the golden altar and the copper altar. Hitva'aduyot 5742 Vol. 4 p. 2029 (p. 283)
* '''27a.''' Sinners of Israel who are full of mitzvot like a pomegranate. Hitva'aduyot 5742 Vol. 4 p. 2030 (p. 284)
* '''27a.''' Kal vachomer from the salamander. Likutei Sichot Vol. 16 p. 435 (p. 448)
* '''Conclusion of the Masechet''', The law of the altar's overlay. Sichot Kodesh 5731 Vol. 2.
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