An explanation of the Alter Rebbe’s statements in Iggeres HaTeshuvah that when undertaking a private fast, one may also eat a small amount in the three hours before sunrise; the custom of reciting the psalm Mizmor Shir LeYom HaShabbos twice on Friday night

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Instructions regarding the printing of texts of Chassidus in post-war Germany

No. 455

This letter was addressed to R. Chanoch Hendel Havlin, one of the members of the Lubavitch community in Jerusalem.

B"H, 23 Shvat, 5709

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your letter of the 12th of Shvat:

1. Thank you for writing concerning the welfare of R. Pinchas L. Landau and his household, and also for your report of what happened when R. Shlomo Palmer visited the Holy Land. “Although a woman is speaking, she is spinning.”[272] Surely you did what was necessary to increase the support from the Chicago Fund for Yeshivas Toras Emes.

2. The sichos of Yud-Shvat and the kuntreis for Yud/Yud-Gimmel Shvat were sent to you. Since the time for these special days has passed and “the Torah showed concern for the financial resources of the Jewish people,”[273] they were sent by ordinary mail. In this package was also included a kuntreis for Shvat for my relative R. Baruch Schneerson, a kuntreis for Yud-Tes Kislev and a kuntreis for Shvat for my relative R. Chayim Schneerson. Thank you for taking the trouble to deliver them.

3. Since you are one of those who participate in the work of Kehot and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, we have sent you Sefer HaNiggunim which was just published. You will no doubt acknowledge your receipt of it.

4. Enclosed is a letter for each of the above individuals. [I am sending them to you] because I don’t know their correct addresses. I would like to take this opportunity to inquire whether R. Baruch Schneerson published any other articles concerning [the works of] Kehot or Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.[274]

5. Regarding your questions concerning the customs for a yahrzeit, I will answer after I clarify the matter again. Perhaps I will print [a summary of these customs] in the kuntreis for Beis Nissan that is approaching.[275]

6. It is unfortunate that you did not send your father’s notes on the Tanya.[276] Perhaps R. Shlomo Palmer will bring them. I have written about this matter many times.

7. We read in the newspapers here that yeshivah students and the Torah community as a whole were subjected to public derision in Jerusalem. Please explain to me what took place to quiet the feelings.

8. If it is possible for you to receive a permit [to import holy texts], you would be able to purchase a [sizable] number of all the publications of Kehot — particularly those recently [printed] — since the number of the members of the chassidic brotherhood and the temimim in the Holy Land has increased.

With greetings and wishes for everlasting good in all matters,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

   

Notes:

272. (Back to text) [Megillah 14b. As Rashi explains, the Talmud is describing Avigail’s statements to David (I Shmuel, ch. 25) in which — though she spoke on behalf of her husband — she also mentioned herself, implying that if her husband would die, David should marry her. By referring to this statement, the Rebbe was implying that although R. Havlin was providing information for the Rebbe, he would also stand to benefit, for R. Palmer was on a mission for the Chicago Fund that was allocating funds for yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael. See also Letters No. 418 and 424.]

273. (Back to text) [Rosh HaShanah 27a, et al. I.e., they were sent by ordinary mail to save money.]

274. (Back to text) [See Letter 452.]

275. (Back to text) [The customs were indeed printed in that kuntreis (which was later published in Sefer HaMaamarim 5709, p. 74).]

276. (Back to text) [See Letter 416 and the other letters cited in the notes to that letter.]

An explanation of the Alter Rebbe’s statements in Iggeres HaTeshuvah that when undertaking a private fast, one may also eat a small amount in the three hours before sunrise; the custom of reciting the psalm Mizmor Shir LeYom HaShabbos twice on Friday night

Table of contents

Search this book:

Instructions regarding the printing of texts of Chassidus in post-war Germany