6586 —תנחומים ונחמה בכפלים, והוראה בישיבה בכפר חב"ד לזכות נשמת הנפטר

B"H, 7th of Kislev, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

The young man Yehoshua Moshe Yosef^[1]
and the whole family, may they live long and happily

In reply to your letter of Rosh Chodesh Kislev.

I was shaken by the report some days ago of the terrible tragedy that befell you in the passing of the Rav and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored^[2], a man of fine character and many deeds, whose work was the work of Heaven, our teacher^[3] Reb Yisrael Yitzchak Zelig, of blessed memory^[4].^[5]

May it be G‑d's will that from now on you will know no more anguish^[6], G‑d forbid, and only goodness and kindness, in good that is visible and revealed, shall find you always, all the days^[7].

Since consolation includes matters of rectifying the past, the order in it is that it must be "double"^[8]. May it be G‑d's will that this be so in your case too, and that matters of goodness and delight multiply, steadily increasing (and as explained elsewhere^[9], that the "double" in this is far more than double in quantity)^[10].

It was pleasant for me to read in your letter about your work teaching in the yeshivah in Kfar Chabad, where "G‑d commanded the blessing"^[11]. May it be G‑d's will that you occupy yourself with this with the greatest devotion and dedication, for through this too there will be the greatest satisfaction and merit for the soul of the departed^[12]; and it will certainly serve to add blessing and success in all your affairs and in the affairs of the family in general.

With blessing for good tidings^[13] in all the above.

[Publisher's note: Yehoshua Moshe Yosef: Halperin, Kfar Chabad.]

Notes

1. Yehoshua Moshe Yosef (יהושע משה יוסף): Halperin, of Kfar Chabad.

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

3. Our teacher (מו"ה): מורנו הרב.

4. Of blessed memory (ע"ה): עליו השלום, "peace be upon him".

5. Reb Yisrael Yitzchak Zelig (ישראל יצחק זעליג): The Rav and Chassid R. Yisrael Yitzchak Zelig Halperin, of Kfar Chabad. Born on 10 Cheshvan 5671, he was killed in a road accident at the entrance to Kfar Chabad on 17 Cheshvan 5719, at the age of 48.

6. Anguish (עגמ"נ): עגמת נפש.

7. Always, all the days (תכה"י): תמיד כל הימים. "In good that is visible and revealed" — open good, seen as good even by the eyes of flesh (and not a hidden good, as in the painful event).

8. It must be "double" (שצ"ל בכפלים): After the words of the prophecy of consolation, Yeshayahu 40:2: "for she has received from the hand of G‑d double for all her sins", and there (pasuk 1): "Comfort, comfort My people"; and as Chazal say (Eichah Rabbah, parshah 1, on "Jerusalem sinned a sin"): they sinned doubly, were struck doubly, and are consoled doubly.

9. Elsewhere (במ"א): במקום אחר.

10. Far more than double in quantity (בהרבה יותר מכפלים בכמות): The "double" of consolation is not only a doubling in number, twice what was, but an elevation in quality: the good that comes afterward is incomparably greater.

11. "G‑d commanded the blessing" (שם צוה ה' את הברכה): The words of the pasuk, Tehillim 133:3: "for there G‑d commanded the blessing, life forever" (said there of Zion and Eretz Yisrael); in the letter, of Kfar Chabad, founded by the Previous Rebbe.

12. Merit for the soul of the departed (זכות הכי גדול לנשמתו של הנפטר): The holy work of those who remain alive adds elevation and merit to the soul of the departed. Compare the saying of Chazal, Sanhedrin 104a: "A son brings merit to his father."

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

Summary

The Rebbe consoles a family in Kfar Chabad on the tragic passing of one of its members, blessing them with only revealed good from now on. Since consolation also rectifies the past, it comes "double" — far more than double. He welcomes the young man's teaching in the yeshivah in Kfar Chabad, where G‑d commanded the blessing, as a great merit for the soul of the departed and a source of blessing for the family.