5937 —התועדות י"ט כסלו בתומכי תמימים, וההשתדלות היתירה לקרב בני תורה מישיבות אחרות לתורת החסידות

B"H, 18 Kislev, 5718
Brooklyn.

The Rabbi and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, whose work is the work of Heaven, our teacher Rabbi Shlomo Chaim, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter. In the meantime a letter from your daughter, may she live, arrived, and I have already answered her.

Surely there will be farbrengens in Tomchei Temimim on this bright day of Yud-Tes Kislev and the day after, and every possible effort will be made to draw in the students of the other yeshivos as well, for they are closer than the "outside" in the plain sense^[1]; especially after reflecting on the efforts of the Alter Rebbe (in addition to the efforts of the Maggid's other disciples) to win Torah scholars and gifted people for the teachings of Chassidus. And the very name points specifically to Chabad^[2], as explained in several sichos of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, of sacred and blessed memory, may his merit shield us. From this it is understood that extra effort is needed in this point of winning Torah scholars. And surely here too the ruling from Above will be fulfilled, that because of this self-sacrifice (of the Alter Rebbe) for the teachings of Chassidus, the Heavenly Court ruled that in every matter of Torah, fear of Heaven and good character traits, the hand of those bound to him and following in his footsteps will prevail^[3].

With blessing for an active and joyous farbrengen, and for good news in all the above.

Publisher's notes

Printed in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 10, p. 247, and completed from the secretariat's copy.

Rabbi Shlomo Chaim (מו"ה שלמה חיים): Kesselman, Lod. Further letters to him: above, vol. 12, letter 3992, and the sources noted there.

The students of the other yeshivos (תלמידי שאר ישיבות): See also below, letter 5972.

Notes

1. Closer than the "outside" (קרובים הם יותר מאשר חוצה כפשוטו): If the wellsprings of Chassidus are to be spread "outward" (after Mishlei 5:16, "your wellsprings shall spread outward"), to those far off, then the students of other yeshivos, who are Torah scholars, are closer than the literal "outside," and all the more so one should strive to draw them near. After Yud-Tes Kislev 5716 the Rebbe had already written to him (vol. 12, letter 3992) that he should have kept up the connection "with the avrechim of the other yeshivos who took part in the Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen"; and after this Yud-Tes Kislev the Rebbe wrote to the yeshivah's administration in Lod (letter 5972) that he was very pleased "that they have begun to draw students from other yeshivos to these farbrengens."

2. The very name points to Chabad (השם מורה חב"ד דוקא): Chabad stands for Chochmah, Binah, Daas, the faculties of the intellect. The name itself shows that this Chassidus is built on understanding and comprehension, and so belongs especially to Torah scholars and gifted minds.

3. The ruling from Above (פס"ד של מעלה): From a story of the Mitteler Rebbe, printed in a letter of the Previous Rebbe at the end of Kitzurim VeHe'aros LeTanya, end of p. 122. The Rebbe cited it in the same days also in letter 5911 (9 Kislev 5718).

Summary

On Yud-Tes Kislev the students of other yeshivos should be drawn to the farbrengen and to Chassidus, for they are nearer than any "outside." The Alter Rebbe gave himself to winning Torah scholars, Chabad by its very name speaks to the mind, and Heaven has ruled that those who follow him will prevail.