Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9438

By the grace of Hashem,

24 Tevet* 5728,
Brooklyn,

To the Rav*, distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, Rav Yitzchak[1],

I greet and bless you,

I am replying to your letter of 20 Tevet*, in which you inform me of the proposal[2] that Chabad* direct the campaign for road accident prevention[3]. If that were the case, one would subsequently turn to you for all similar projects, so that you would lead the campaigns, and thus "I would not keep my own vineyard"[4], at any rate not in the manner that is appropriate. There is therefore no reason to seek other vineyards, even if it is clear that they can indeed be defined as such, which one should not aspire to guard — that is quite obvious.

No doubt you will give me a full account, with all the necessary details, of the meeting that took place at the home of Mr. Elie A.[5]. I thank you in advance for this.

With my blessing,

M. Schneerson,

Since you visited him, it would be good to inform him, with all[6] the necessary details, of the meeting you had with officer Ariel S.[7]. You should understand what I mean.

Notes

[1] Rav I. Gansburg, of Kfar Chabad*. Concerning him, see letter no. 8750.
[2] Rav Gansburg wrote: "In every country, there is a national association for road accident prevention, which runs campaigns on radio and in the press. I thought we could use this to advance our own projects. Chabad* would lead the campaign, in collaboration with this association. My question is: should we go in this direction, which would be the first communication campaign of Chabad* and would also save lives?"
[3] A letter from the Rebbe's secretariat, dated 7 Adar* 5728 and addressed to Rav Yisrael Leibov, director of the youth of the Chabad* association, printed in Mikdash Melech*, vol. 6, paragraph 54, says: "I am replying to your letter of 27 Shvat* asking whether the youth of the Chabad* association should take part in the road accident prevention campaign, Heaven forbid. There is reason to prefer the opinion expressed in your letter, which opposes this participation and considers that it is not the business of the youth of the Chabad* association, as we had already written to you."
[4] According to the verse Shir HaShirim* 1, 6: "They made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept."
[5] Elyahu Amikam.
[6] The Rebbe underlines the word "all".
[7] A. Sharon.

ט'תלח

ב"ה ,  כ"ד טבת, תשכ"ח

ברוקלין.

הרה"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ מו"ה יצחק שי'

שלום וברכה!

במענה למכתבו מיום כ' טבת בו כותב אודות ההצעה שחב"ד ינהלו תעמולה למניעת תאונות בדרכים וכו'.

הרי אז יפנו אליהם גם משאר כיו"ב שינהלו תעמולה גם אודותם וכו' – ובכלל "כרמי שלי לא נטרתי" (ככל הדרוש) ואין לחפש כרמים – אף שגם הם כרמים – להיות נוטרה כו' וק"ל.

בודאי יודיע בפרטיות הדרושה ע"ד ההתוועדות בבית של מר אלי' ע. שי' ות"ח מראש.

בברכה,

מ. שניאורסאהן

מהנכון שיודיע (כיון שהי' בביתו) – ובכל הפרטיות האפשריות – מההתועדות עם הקצין ארי' ש. שי', וד"ל.