Sending Kehot texts without prior solicitation

Table of contents

Search this book:

The roles of a husband and wife in marriage; marriage as a phase in a man's personal development

No. 117

This letter was addressed to Rabbi Menachem Zev Greenglass, one of the leading members of the Lubavitch community in Montreal.

B"H, Monday, 16 Kislev, 5704

Greetings and blessings,

1. All the printed material you requested was sent to you. Certainly, you will notify us of its receipt;

2. (In my estimation,) [the works] to be published in the near future will include the Shmuessen for Kislev, the [Students'] Calendar in English, and the sichah of Chai Elul. All these have already been sent to the printer. There is another Kuntres which contains talks and maamarim of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, that I hope to send to the printer next week. After that, the texts next on the agenda are HaYom Yom and the portions of Sifreinu that have not been printed yet. For various reasons, [the printing of] Kuntres Etz [Ha]Chayim is not pertinent to the immediate future.

3. We received several more copies of the text Chachmei Yisrael Baal Shem Tov. Please notify us whether to send you more, and if so, the quantity you desire.

4. Why has the recording of [your] memoirs[1] been forsaken?

6. [2] Over the course of time since our last account, we have received from you 150 [dollars]. 100 will be given to Machne [Israel]; the remainder will be divided according to your instructions.

7. I was shocked to hear of the cold and cautious response of the colleagues in your fellowship to the mission of the Chassidic master and gaon, R. ... when he visited in your community.

   (Based on the statements of Rashi, Avodah Zarah 20b, it appears that the skill of the known craftsman[3] is to endeavor [to make sure] that when a mitzvah presents itself to a person without any effort on his part, the person will not "stumble" and become an [active] partner in the mitzvah.[4])

   See the anthology from R. Aharon Strashela (13c) which explains the great importance of this matter,[5] and how relevant it is for everyone who desires to be connected [to the Rebbe]. Similarly, in the realm of Nigleh, there are statements from our Sages concerning this matter.

   It appears that this "craftsman" has prepared several responses and explanations [that appear to stem] from the side of holiness, explaining that, on the contrary.... Arguments of this type, albeit on a refined level, are reflected in the letters of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, quoted in HaYom Yom, p. 64. The results such an approach produces in one's Divine service can be understood based on the explanations in Kuntres U'Mayon, Maamar 16, ch. 2....

9. [6] Enclosed is also a digest of the sichos of Simchas Torah. [This is being sent] because it is more relevant to actual deed. When you return it, I will send the first section, a digest of the sichos of Rosh HaShanah, Sukkos, and Shemini Atzeres. Certainly, you will not delay its return. I do not know yet if this digest will be printed. It has not been edited yet, therefore, extreme care should be shown with regard to publicizing it.

10. Please borrow 18 American dollars from the funds of Kehot in your possession, send a note in my name [and give them] to the student, Rabbi Yosef Wineberg, on the day of his wedding. This is not related to Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch or Machne Israel, but is rather a personal [gift] of mine. I will pay the debt here. The explanation for such a present is found in Likkutei Torah, at the conclusion of Parshas Naso.

May it be His will that we merit the influence of this, the third month [Kislev]. It differs from the third month of the summer [Sivan]. For the summer months are characterized by labor following the pattern of direct light, the Divine service of the righteous. The winter months, in contrast, are characterized by the pattern of a rebounding light, the Divine service of a baal teshuvah, the Divine service which typifies the era of exile, and in particular, the present age of ikvesa diMeshicha, as explained in the maamar entitled BaYom HaShemini, 5789.

May this bring us to the revelation of "on the third day, He will elevate us,"[7] which will come about through Mashiach, and [whose coming] will be precipitated by spreading the wellsprings [of Chassidus] outward. See Sichos Simchas Torah, 5690, sec. 32ff.

This refers to the revelation of the light of Chassidus. This is particularly true after [the Alter Rebbe's] imprisonment in Petersburg and his release on Tuesday, [Yud-Tes Kislev,][8] the day on which the expression "[And G-d saw that] it was good"[9] was repeated, which [as our Sages explain] (Kiddushin 40a) [refers to a twofold good,] "good to the heavens, and good to the created beings." This is what is meant by [spreading the wellsprings] outward. See the explanation in Tanya, ch. 32: "Therefore they are referred to as created beings."[10]

This comes through the influence of Schneur, whose name means "two lights." When the numerical equivalent of the word rut is doubled, it produces the word ,cvtu, "and you shall love," [including loving G-d] "with all your might."[11] (See Sichas Kislev 20, 5693, sec. 17). The medium that [enables] this [is efforts to] "Love your neighbor as yourself."[12]

With the blessing, "Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,"

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) [See above Letter No. 82.]

2. (Back to text) [The Hebrew text of this letter skips from the Hebrew letter daled to the letter vav.]

3. (Back to text) [I.e., the yetzer hara.]

4. (Back to text) [It appears that the Rebbe is referring to the entry Zehiros, in which Rashi states that if a transgression presents itself to a person, he should show extra care not to stumble and violate it.]

5. (Back to text) [It appears that the older chassid was sent to collect maamad, money used for the support of the Rebbe.]

6. (Back to text) [The Hebrew text of this letter skips from the Hebrew letter zayin to the letter tes.]

7. (Back to text) [Hoshea 6:2.]

8. (Back to text) [Which is celebrated three days after the date of the composition of this letter.]

9. (Back to text) [Bereishis 1:10, 1:12.]

10. (Back to text) [Tanya, loc. cit., interprets this as referring to individuals who have no redeeming qualities other than the fact that they are G-d's creations.]

11. (Back to text) [Devarim 6:5.]

12. (Back to text) [Vayikra 19:19.]

Sending Kehot texts without prior solicitation

Table of contents

Search this book:

The roles of a husband and wife in marriage; marriage as a phase in a man's personal development