5933 —חלוקת דמי חנוכה לתלמידים, תיקון טעות בשיחות שבדפוס, ודו"ח מהתועדויות י"ט כסלו באה"ק

B"H, 18 Kislev, 5718
Brooklyn.

The Rabbi and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal affairs, our teacher Rabbi Avraham, may he live^[1]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of 11 Kislev and the ones before it.

Obviously this year too you should distribute Chanukah gelt^[2] as in past years; and with students about whom there is some doubt, be lenient, that is, give to them as well.

As to your question about correcting an error in the sichos^[3]: obviously it must be corrected. It is the law in the Shulchan Aruch that books must be corrected^[4], and especially matters that are in print.

Surely you will report in detail on the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengens in the settlements of Anash in the Holy Land, may it be built and established, and with the necessary detail also on the farbrengen in Kfar Chabad and on the gatherings that took place.

With blessing for an active and joyous farbrengen, and for good news.

Publisher's notes

Rabbi Avraham (מו"ה אברהם): Pariz, Petach Tikvah. Further letters to him: above, vol. 13, letter 4420, and the sources noted there.

Notes

1. Rabbi Avraham (מו"ה אברהם): See also above, vol. 9, letter 2647; vol. 10, letter 3051 (25 MarCheshvan 5715).

2. Chanukah gelt (דמי חנוכה): Chanukah money for the students in the Rebbe's name, as in past years. Already in Kislev 5716 the Rebbe wrote to R. Shlomo Chaim Kesselman in Lod (vol. 12, letter 3992): "Surely this year too Chanukah gelt was distributed in my name, as I asked R. Avraham Pariz to arrange, as in past years, to those already learning Chassidus." On the same day the Rebbe wrote similarly to R. Shlomo Matusof in Casablanca, below, letter 5936: "Surely this year too they will distribute Chanukah gelt in my name, as last year."

3. An error in the sichos (התיקון טעות בהשיחות): An error found in the Rebbe's sichos printed in the Holy Land. Earlier, in letter 3051 (25 MarCheshvan 5715), the Rebbe had written to him about printing the sichos and maamarim: "They should not print my maamarim and sichos until I have reviewed them."

4. Books must be corrected (שצ"ל הספרים מתוקנים): Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 279:1, "It is forbidden to keep an uncorrected book," based on Kesubos 19b: "An uncorrected book: R. Ami said, up to thirty days one may keep it; from then on it is forbidden to keep it, as it says, 'Let not injustice dwell in your tents.'" All the more so something in print, where an error spreads to the public and remains for generations.

Summary

Chanukah gelt is to be given generously, leaning toward including those in doubt. A mistake in printed words of Torah must be corrected, since an uncorrected book may not be kept and print carries an error far and wide; and the Rebbe wants to hear in detail how Yud-Tes Kislev was celebrated.