6614 —עידוד לפעולות בפריז, מילאן, והמסר של חנוכה

B"H, 26th of Kislev, 5719
Brooklyn.

The Rav and Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, whose work is the work of Heaven^[1], our teacher Reb Gershon Mendel, may he live^[2], and his wife, the Rebbetzin Mrs. Basya, may she live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With pleasure your letter of the 21st of Kislev was received, in which you write the main points of your activities in Paris and during the journey.

It is surprising that you do not mention how you are settling in Milan, apart from the few words about the journey; you will surely fill this in at the next opportunity.

And may G‑d help that it be with great success in all the details: to make use, in the fullest measure, of the blessing and success that are given for this from Above, and to do it "with joy and gladness of heart"^[3], and in the manner of the lesson of the days of Chanukah, when we have been instructed to add in candles and light from day to day^[4]. I will await good tidings in all the above.

With blessing for outstanding success and for good tidings — and the more detail, the more praiseworthy^[5]...

And with blessing for a happy Chanukah.

Enclosed herewith^[6] — Chanukah gelt, as though it were in silver, materially too. May it be G‑d's will^[7] that it be a whole shekel "in the holy shekel"^[8], as explained in Torah Or and in several places in the maamarim on "Ki Sisa Es Rosh"^[9].

[Publisher's notes: Part of it was printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 20, p. 635, and completed from the secretariat's copy. Our teacher Reb Gershon Mendel: Gerlik, Milan. Further letters to him: below, 6632, 6672. "In Paris and during the journey": see above, letter 6584.]

Notes

1. Whose work is the work of Heaven (מלאכתו מלאכת שמים): After the words of R. Yishmael to R. Meir the scribe in Eruvin 13a: "My son, be careful in your work, for your work is the work of Heaven." Here as a title for a shliach engaged in holy work.

2. Reb Gershon Mendel (מו"ה גרשון מענדל שי'): Gerlik, of Milan. Son of the Chassid R. Chaim Meir Gerlik of Kfar Chabad (see letters 4652, 5664, 5734); in the summer of 5718 he married Mrs. Basya (née Posner). On Sunday, 11 Kislev 5719, they set out on the Rebbe's shlichus to Milan in Italy. Since he had to obtain the Italian visa in one of the countries on his way (London or Paris), the Rebbe advised him to choose Paris, in order to speak there with R. Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetzky, the Rebbe's representative in Europe, and receive his detailed instructions for his work in Milan; and the Rebbe asked R. Gorodetzky to travel with him to Milan and present him to the community (see above, letter 6584). That is what is meant here by "your activities in Paris and during the journey". Later the Rebbe asks about their discussions with the lay leaders and how they are working in their community (below, letter 6632), and guides them to go in ways of peace and pleasantness and to take care not to give the impression of going "over the head" of anyone (below, letter 6672). In Milan he served as rav of the Ashkenazi community and headed the Chabad institutions in Italy for over sixty years (he passed away on Shabbos, 1 Adar 5781).

3. "With joy and gladness of heart" (מתוך שמחה וטוב לבב): After the pasuk, Devarim 28:47: "because you did not serve G‑d your G‑d with joy and with gladness of heart."

4. To add in candles and light from day to day (צו מוסיף זיין בנרות ואור מיום ליום): Shabbos 21b: "Beis Hillel say: on the first day one lights one, from then on one steadily adds", "for one rises in holiness and does not descend." Hence the lesson for the work of shlichus: to add in the light of Torah and mitzvos from day to day.

5. The more detail, the more praiseworthy (וכל המפרט הרי זה משובח): After the wording of the Pesach Haggadah: "and whoever tells at length of the Exodus from Egypt is praiseworthy." That is: the more they detail good news of their activities, the more praiseworthy.

6. Enclosed herewith (מוסג"פ): מוסגר פה, i.e. enclosed with the letter.

7. May it be G‑d's will (ויה"ר): ויהי רצון.

8. A whole shekel "in the holy shekel" (שקל שלם בשקל הקודש): After the pasuk, Shemos 30:13: "This they shall give, everyone who passes among those counted: half a shekel in the holy shekel." The blessing is that their giving be "a whole shekel", not only "half".

9. Torah Or... the maamarim on "Ki Sisa Es Rosh" (תו"א ובכ"מ בדרושי תשא את ראש): תו"א — Torah Or of the Alter Rebbe; כ"מ — several places. In the maamarim of Chassidus on "When you take the count (ki sisa es rosh) of the children of Israel" and "This they shall give, half a shekel", it is explained that a person gives "half" from his side, and through this the other half is added to him from Above, and it becomes "a whole shekel".

Summary

The Rebbe thanks the new shluchim to Milan for their report from Paris and the journey, and asks why they wrote nothing of how they are settling in. May G‑d help them use the blessing given from Above to the full, with joy and gladness, adding light each day as Chanukah teaches; he asks for detailed good news. He encloses Chanukah gelt, with the blessing that it be "a whole shekel in the holy shekel".