An explanation of the ruling that if one speaks between putting on the arm tefillin and the head tefillin, one must recite a blessing over the head tefillin in light of the Kabbalistic tradition that the reason a blessing is not recited over the head tefillin is that the light drawn down cannot be drawn down on man's initiative

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Rosh HaShanah blessings; Rosh HaShanah as "the head of the year"

No. 197

This letter was addressed to the Chief Rabbi of England, Rabbi, Dr. Hertz.

B"H, 24 Elul, 5705

Greetings and blessings,

My revered father-in-law, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Shlita, has addressed Jewish soldiers with a letter containing a message for the coming Rosh HaShanah.

Aware of the great benefit that reading this message would bring the Jews in the British army and in particular those who are located in the countries that have been conquered by the British - that they will be aroused to endeavor to offer spiritual assistance to our Jewish brethren tarrying there -

We thought it proper to send you several copies of this letter so that you would have the opportunity - if you find it appropriate - to disseminate them via airmail to the soldiers mentioned above.

We have also included several copies of the letter sent by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, to the Jews of Europe. For through the Religious Offices Division that you head, it is possible for these letters to reach places in the liberated countries to which there are no other means of communication. The merit [of distributing these letters] may thus accrue to the meritorious,[235] you and others who help.

Obviously, if you will need more copies of these letters, we will immediately forward them to the addresses you mention.

I will conclude with blessings for the new year, [a year when] Rosh HaShanah falls on Shabbos. [May it be] a good and sweet year, that will in its entirety be part of "the day that is all Shabbos and repose."[236]

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Executive Director

With blessings for the new year and heartfelt good wishes to your son-in-law, about whose great efforts in strengthening Torah and Yiddishkeit I have heard much. May G-d be with him and may he ascend higher.

   

Notes:

235. (Back to text) [Cf. Shabbos 32a.]

236. (Back to text) [I.e., the Era of the Redemption, cf. the conclusion of tractate Tamid.]

An explanation of the ruling that if one speaks between putting on the arm tefillin and the head tefillin, one must recite a blessing over the head tefillin in light of the Kabbalistic tradition that the reason a blessing is not recited over the head tefillin is that the light drawn down cannot be drawn down on man's initiative

Table of contents

Search this book:

Rosh HaShanah blessings; Rosh HaShanah as "the head of the year"