Directives regarding the publication of texts of Chassidus in Shanghai; an explanation of Rashi's commentary to the phrase "Aharon did so"

Table of contents

Search this book:

Instructions regarding donors to Kehot and details regarding Kehot publications; an explanation of Rashi's commentary to the phrase "Aharon did so"

No. 235

This letter was addressed to R. Yaakov Landau who served as an attendant of the Rebbe Rashab and later became the Rav of Bnei Brak and one of the leading Rabbinical authorities in Eretz Yisrael.

Thursday, 28 Sivan, 5706

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your letter of Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan:

Thank you for the copy of "the short note."[430] Redoubled thanks is forthcoming if you could send also [a record of the portions of the Rebbe Rashab's will] that you remember by heart.

With regard to the letters: I will recount G-d's kindnesses for the license that has been granted:[431] The "Suggestion for a Program for the Congregation of Israel" exists here. I am hoping that you will fulfill your promise with regard to have the kuntreis concerning Lashon HaKodesh[432] copied. From the outset, I offer my thanks.

In the interim, the book of sichos, Toras Shalom has certainly arrived.

With regard to your comments concerning [the prayer beginning] Yehi Ratzon recited after the passage [describing the sacrifices of] the Nesiim[433] and the deletion of the word al in the passage Yehallilucha [in Hallel]:[434]

All of the practices which were printed in HaYom Yom were included at the directive of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita. Before the printing, he looked over them (and there were some that he directed to remove, stating that they were not directives for people at large). With regard to these two matters, we also saw several times that my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, would recite the Yehi Ratzon and he would not recite the word al. Perhaps there were variations regarding this matter or perhaps since it was a matter not required of a person....[435]

We gave [the copies of] the Tzemach Tzedek to one of the booksellers here to market and he sent them to the Holy Land as well. I do not know how he will market them. [In this printing,] we added (in addition to the notes of the Tzemach Tzedek at the conclusion of the portion on Mishnayos), a volume on Choshen Mishpat (67 responsa), a volume of additions (75 responsa and 93 pages of commentary on the Talmud). And at the conclusion of the volume on Orach Chayim, we printed a copy of the Tzemach Tzedek's actual handwriting from a responsum on Choshen Mishpat, a brief biography, and a list of his printed works.

With regard to the series of maamarim entitled BeShaah SheHikdimu, 5672,[436] I spoke [about this matter] several times with the members of the chassidic brotherhood here. But of what value is talking about the matter? The publication requires approximately $10,000. Who will donate that money? For it is obvious that we cannot expect that many will leap at the opportunity to purchase the book.

With regards to the members of your household. With blessings of all good forever, and [with the blessing] "Immediately to teshuvah; immediately to Redemption,"

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

Perhaps you already possess existing [records] or perhaps you could now write [a description of] the Rebbe [Rashab's] activity in communal affairs in the years in which you were active in it, [for example,] with regard to the help to [Jews who settled in outlying communities].[437] It is possible that eventually, it will serve as part of a biography of the Rebbe Rashab.

   

Notes:

430. (Back to text) [See Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rashab, Vol. II, Letter No. 516. The Rebbe is referring to a brief letter which the Rebbe Rashab sent the Previous Rebbe, forbidding him to engage in business activities and asking him to deliver chassidic teachings to the chassidic community.]

431. (Back to text) [It appears that the Rebbe is referring to license granted by the Previous Rebbe to print the Rebbe Rashab's writings.]

432. (Back to text) [Ibid., Letter No. 459.]

433. (Back to text) [In HaYom Yom, the Rebbe writes that this prayer should be recited. R. Landau had commented to the Rebbe that the Rebbe Rashab had once told him that it should not be recited.]

434. (Back to text) [In HaYom Yom, the Rebbe had written that this word not be recited. R. Landau had commented that on several occasions, at the Seder and when the Rebbe Rashab served as chazan during Sukkos, he had heard the Rebbe Rashab recite it.]

435. (Back to text) [The Rebbe is referring to our Sages' statement (Sh'vuos 34b) that when a person is not instructed to pay attention to a particular matter, he may err concerning it. Similarly, the Rebbe is implying that perhaps R. Landau's recollection was in error.]

436. (Back to text) [R. Landau had commented that the Rebbe Rashab had wanted very much to have this series of maamarim printed.]

437. (Back to text) [See the Introduction to Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rashab, Vol. V, pp. 6-9, which explains that in World War I, many Jews were expelled from the portion of Russia where they had lived previously and were forced to dwell in outlying communities where there were no Jewish communal facilities (e.g., synagogues, mikvaos, or schools). The Rebbe Rashab endeavored to establish such facilities and sent R. Landau several times to these communities for this purpose.]

Directives regarding the publication of texts of Chassidus in Shanghai; an explanation of Rashi's commentary to the phrase "Aharon did so"

Table of contents

Search this book:

Instructions regarding donors to Kehot and details regarding Kehot publications; an explanation of Rashi's commentary to the phrase "Aharon did so"