Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9146

By the grace of Hashem,

Rosh Chodesh* Sivan 5726,

I greet and bless you,

I duly received your letter[1] and, on the occasion of the approaching festival of Shavuot — the time of the giving of our Torah — for us and for all Israel, for good, I express to you herewith my blessing according to the formulation of the master, my father-in-law the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, to receive the Torah with joy and in depth. With my blessing for the festival,

M. Schneerson,

* * *

I duly received your letter of 9 Iyar and those preceding it. I reply to your questions[2]. If the column "Chassidim* recount" is delayed, there is no reason to hold up the printing of the book on the Tzemach Tzedek* on account of this[3]. In its foreword, you may include my letter for the Pesach festival this year[4]. Of course, it is not necessary to mention the participation of funds that may be feared to provoke undesirable reactions.

Regarding the contradictions you occasionally find in the transcripts of the discourses[5], you will note them at the end of the volume or in the margins of the text, as was done in the second edition of Chanoch La'Na'ar*[6]. You have additions and modifications to the transcripts of 5703[7]. This is doubtless because you received at the time the transcripts from your father-in-law[8]. What was printed, however, was reviewed by my father-in-law, the Rebbe[9], who corrected[9] these notes with his holy hand.

Obviously, insofar as it is feasible, it is clear that it would be good to improve the book on the Admor HaEmtzai* that you had written[10]. You may publish the photograph of the synagogue of the old city, and I am surprised that you have any doubt about this. The request for blessing in your letter will be read at the holy resting place[11].

* * *

You note[12] that in the printed edition of the Tehillim*, before each Psalm[13], its content is specified. However, this notation also appears in very old editions and indeed in most of them. There is therefore nothing new here that was introduced recently. Before Psalm 86, it is stated that it contains many prayers and that various praises of the Holy One, blessed be He, are mentioned therein. One may ask: what is the question here? Is this not the plain meaning of the words of this Psalm, which says: "arrogant men have risen against me, a band of ruthless men seeks my life"[14], "my enemies will see"[15] — which clearly alludes to people — and, before that, "for I am poor and needy"[16], "in the day of my trouble"[17], "in the depths of the grave"[18]? And the same applies to the praises of Hashem.

It is clear that every unpleasant or undesirable situation a person may face justifies a specific prayer, depending on what one wishes to obtain. One can also clearly deduce the presence of very serious petitions in this Psalm from the fact that it does not appear in the Shabbat and festival liturgy[19], nor is it recited when Tachanun* is not said. At present I do not have the translation and commentary you mention in your letter, but in any case this does not alter what has been said above, which is the plain meaning of this Psalm.

* * *

I duly received your letter of 21 Iyar. The request for blessing contained therein will be read at the resting place[20]. You inform me of your moral situation. You will take counsel with your spiritual guide, who teaches you Chassidut*, and you will follow his advice. Regarding school, you will adopt the position of the network's leaders[21]. As for the discoloration of your skin in certain areas, you will follow the prescription of a specialist physician.

You surely maintain the three daily studies that concern everyone — on the Chumash*, Tehillim, and Tanya*. At least you will do so in the future.

Notes

[1] See Mikdash Melech*, vol. 2, p. 263.
[2] This paragraph was added to the copy of this letter addressed to Rav Avraham Chanoch Glitsenstein. See, regarding him, letter no. 8106.
[3] This refers to the Sefer HaToledot Tzemach Tzedek, by Rav Glitsenstein, published in winter 5727 (1966).
[4] This is letter no. 9122, appearing on p. 9 of that book.
[5] Of the previous Rebbe.
[6] Published by Kehot* in 5719 (1959), p. 57.
[7] 1943.
[8] Rav Avraham Pariz, who had published these Chassidic discourses and talks.
[9] The Rebbe emphasizes the words "reviewed by my father-in-law, the Rebbe" and "corrected."
[10] This refers to the Sefer HaToledot Admor HaEmtzai, reissued in winter 5728 (1967).
[11] Of the Rebbe Rayatz*.
[12] This paragraph was added to the copy of this letter addressed to Rav Baruch Litvin. See, regarding him, letter no. 8318.
[13] See, on this topic, Torat Menachem*, Hitvaaduyot* 5747 (1986), vol. 1, p. 81.
[14] At verse 14.
[15] At verse 17.
[16] At verse 1.
[17] At verse 7.
[18] At verse 13.
[19] See Shaar HaKolel*, ch. 11 §23.
[20] Of the Rebbe Rayatz.
[21] Of the Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch schools in the Holy Land.