An excerpt from the first letter written by the Rebbe after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz; maintaining a connection with the Rebbe Rayatz by studying his maamarim, sichos and letters, and by thinking deeply about the directives he gave

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Proceeding in the activities of the Rebbe Rayatz despite the difficulty arising from his passing; an emphasis on ahavas Yisrael

No. 559

This letter was sent to R. Michael Lipsker, a member of the chassidic community in Paris, instructing him to depart for shlichus in Morocco.

B"H, 20 Shvat, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

We are still baffled and shocked over the passing [of the Rebbe Rayatz] and it is still difficult to write letters. This however, is clear: it was the holy desire of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m — and it is his will at present as well — that none of the efforts that were conducted under his leadership be weakened in any way, and that all those who are bound to him should strengthen and reinforce themselves in the fulfillment of their tasks with which he charged them, with greater strength and greater power. Undoubtedly, in the future, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, will also [continue to] convey influence to them from his spirit so that they succeed in their work [on behalf of the Jewish people] as a whole and in their personal lives.

One of the matters about which my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, spoke to me in the days before his passing was the education of Jewish children in [North] Africa.[206] With G-d's help, [he desired] to establish a branch of his educational endeavors there whose purpose would be to help our Jewish brethren living in [North] Africa establish and organize kosher educational institutions. For this purpose, they would also train a group of teachers from that place. Also, they would make sure that injustice not be perpetrated against the [North African] youth who make aliyah to the Holy Land, to protect them so that they will not be snared in the net of heresy, Heaven forbid.

He told me that he would write to you with regard to the above, [asking you] to travel there — to [North] Africa — to investigate the situation on site and organize the activities and direct them. Among your responsibilities would also be to establish and maintain an ongoing relationship with the local office of the Joint [Distribution Committee[207] so that] over the course of time, they would take over the financial responsibilities. (The ordinary pattern concerning such matters is that the Joint in [North] Africa will turn to the central office of the Joint in France. Through the efforts of R. Benyamin Gorodetzky,[208] everything will certainly be arranged in a desirable fashion. These were the master's words.[209] In the interim, "the angels were victorious,"[210] and the matter was never written down.

Since it has been decided to continue, with G-d's help, all the work that was conducted under the leadership of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, and to reinforce it with greater strength and greater power, for that is certainly his desire, I am notifying you about the above and asking you if you agree to accept this position. There is no doubt in my [mind] that you will accept it with great happiness. Inform me about the above and I will write to the office in Paris to arrange all the details involved.

Until the Joint accepts financial responsibility [for the project] — for they are accustomed to wait a while until they see actual work — we will send the necessary [funds for the] budget from here. May "your beginning be modest"[211] and then — as my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, once said in one of his talks, I think in the name of the Baal Shem Tov[212] — "your end will thrive exceedingly."[211]

The conception of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, was that at first, you should travel to [North] Africa alone. Only afterwards should your family go there.

I heard all of this after it became known that the business proposition made to you was withdrawn and that you returned to your previous job.

I am awaiting your immediate reply.

With wishes for all forms of everlasting good,

M. Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

206. (Back to text) [The Rebbe composed many letters concerning these efforts. Among them Letters No. 568-569, 571, 578, 578*, 585*, and 607.]

207. (Back to text) [An umbrella organization that funds many Jewish activities.]

208. (Back to text) [A chassid who headed the office for the aid of refugees which received financial assistance from the Joint.]

209. (Back to text) [I.e., the directive given by the Rebbe Rayatz before his passing.]

210. (Back to text) [An expression used by our Sages (Kesubos 104b) with regard to the passing of R. Yehudah HaNasi. The Rebbe is thus referring to the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz.]

211. (Back to text) [Iyov 8:7.]

212. (Back to text) [See the Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. VII, Letters No. 1962, 2047, 2136.]

An excerpt from the first letter written by the Rebbe after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz; maintaining a connection with the Rebbe Rayatz by studying his maamarim, sichos and letters, and by thinking deeply about the directives he gave

Table of contents

Search this book:

Proceeding in the activities of the Rebbe Rayatz despite the difficulty arising from his passing; an emphasis on ahavas Yisrael