6584 —הסדרים לנסיעת הרב גרליק למילאנו ועצירה בפריז

B"H, 6th of Kislev, 5719
Brooklyn.

The Rav and Gaon, the Rav and Chassid, the veteran and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs, etc., our teacher Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu, may he live^[1]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

The Rav and Chassid, the veteran and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored^[2], a man of fine character, etc., our teacher^[3] Reb Gershon Mendel Gerlik, may he live, stands ready for his journey, in these days, in success, to Milan^[4]. It has turned out^[5] that he will have to obtain the visa for Italy in one of the countries on his way, that is, in London or in Paris.

Therefore I advised him to choose Paris — so as to use this opportunity to speak at length and in brief with your honor^[6], and to receive your detailed instructions concerning his work in Milan.

And if it is at all possible, it would be very, very proper if your honor would also travel together with him to Milan and present him to his community^[7]; and your honor surely understands too that such a thing will certainly establish and strengthen the whole matter, with the help of G‑d^[8].

With blessing for good tidings^[9],

M. Schneerson

On the day of the departure of Rabbi Gershon Mendel^[10], may he live, from here to Paris, they will cable^[11] about this...

[Publisher's note: Our teacher Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu: Gorodetzky, Paris. Further letters to him: above, vol. 17, letter 6364, and in the references in the notes there.

"Stands ready for his journey": see below, letter 6614 (to Rabbi Gerlik and his wife, in reply to their report of their activities in Paris and during the journey).

"Our teacher Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu": see also below, letter 6629 (to the board of the Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak network in the Holy Land, 6 Teves 5719, acknowledging at its end the receipt of the minutes of the meetings in which he took part); and below, letter 6708 (to Dr. Shlomo Ehrman in Zurich, 4 Adar I 5719, on his meeting with him and on support for the work of Anash in spreading Torah in far-flung corners).]

Notes

1. Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu (מוהרב"א שי'): Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetzky, of Paris.

2. The Rav and Chassid, the veteran and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored (הרה"ח הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ): הרב החסיד, הוותיק וחסיד, איש ירא אלקים, נעלה ונכבד.

3. Our teacher (מו"ה): מורנו הרב.

4. In success, to Milan (צלחה למילאן): צלחה — in peace and success. This is the journey of R. Gershon Mendel Gerlik on the Rebbe's shlichus to Milan in Italy, where he settled and worked to strengthen Judaism.

5. It has turned out (התגולל הדבר): That is, so it came about through the circumstances of the matter.

6. Your honor (כת"ר): כבוד תורתו. This is the recipient, Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetzky, the Rebbe's representative in Europe, whose seat was in Paris (as in the publisher's note at the end of the letter).

7. Present him to his community (ולהציגו לפני קהילתו): The shliach's being presented to the community by someone already known and accepted there adds to the trust and standing he has in the community's eyes, and so the whole shlichus is established from its very beginning.

8. With the help of G‑d (בעזהשי"ת): בעזרת השם יתברך.

9. Good tidings (לבשו"ט): לבשורות טובות.

10. Rabbi Gershon Mendel (הררג"מ): הרב רבי גרשון מענדל (Gerlik).

11. They will cable (יבריקו): They will send a telegram; that is, on the day of his departure they will inform your honor by cable, so that the meeting in Paris can be arranged.

Summary

As R. Gershon Mendel Gerlik prepares to leave on shlichus to Milan, needing an Italian visa on the way in London or Paris, the Rebbe writes to his representative in Paris that he advised Paris, so that the shliach could consult at length and receive detailed instructions for his work in Milan. If at all possible, the recipient should travel with him to Milan and present him to the community, which would establish the whole undertaking. A cable will announce the departure date.