Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9531

By the grace of Hashem,

Month of Menahem Av* 5728,
Brooklyn, New York,

I greet and bless you,

I have duly received your letter(1). We are in the days of the month of Menahem Av*, and may our Father Who is in the heavens — merciful Father and Father of mercy(2) — console(3) His people Israel, as our Sages assure us, with a double consolation(4), double to attain wisdom(5).

It is known that the word "double" does not refer here merely to twice, but to a second time that bears no comparison to the first. Very soon — in what we perceive as near — these days will be transformed into joy, rejoicing, and festivals(6), with our true and complete redemption through our righteous Mashiach*. With my blessing,

Notes

(1) This letter was addressed to several persons.
(2) The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "An adjective, or else the source of mercy. See Likutei Torah*, Parshat Nasso*, p. 23a."
(3) According to the name of this month, Menahem*, meaning the consoler. The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "He Himself, and not through His prophets, according to the Pesikta*, cited by the Tosafot*, commenting on tractate Megillah 31b."
(4) The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "According to the Midrash Eichah Rabbah*, at the end of the chapter; the Likutei Torah*, Parshat Nitzavim*, p. 48a; and the Reshimot Eichah* on the verse: 'weeping, she shall weep,' p. 6, which were subsequently printed in Or HaTorah*, Nach*, vol. 2, from p. 1050."
(5) The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Midrash Shemot Rabbah*, at the beginning of chapter 46; the commentary of the Bechaye* on the verse Tissa 32:15; and the Chassidic* discourse entitled: 'the eighth day, an internalization,' of 5689," printed in Sefer HaMaamarim* 5689, from p. 59.
(6) The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Zechariah 8:19. See tractate Rosh Hashana* 18b."

ט'תקלא

ב"ה,  בחדש מנחם אב, ה'תשכ"ח

ברוקלין, נ.י.

שלום וברכה!

מאשר הנני קבלת מכתבו . . .

ובעמדנו בימי חודש מנחם אב, יהי רצון אשר אבינו שבשמים, אב הרחמן ואב הרחמים, ינחם את עמו ישראל (וכהבטחת חז"ל) נחמה בכפלים, כפלים לתושי',

וידוע אשר כפלים אלו אינם שתי פעמים ככה, כ"א – שלא בערך,

ובקרוב ממש בעגלא דידן יהפכו ימים אלו לששון ולשמחה ולמועדים טובים,

בגאולתנו האמתית והשלימה ע"י משיח צדקנו.

בברכה ,

מ. שניאורסאהן