6630 —פרטים על ר' שמריהו נח שניאורסאהן מבאברויסק ועל ר' שלמה זלמן מקאפוסט, נכדי הצמח צדק

B"H, 6 Teves, 5719
Brooklyn.

The distinguished Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, etc.^[1], Reb Moshe Chaim Ephraim,

may he live long^[2]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of the fifth [Chanukah] light^[3].

Regarding what you write about the tzaddik, the Chassid and the Gaon^[4], etc., R. Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn of Bobruisk^[5]:

What I know: his name was as stated; he was a grandson of the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek; the day of his passing is 15 Teves 5683 [1923], and he rests in honor^[6] in Bobruisk. His grandchildren, may they live long, who now live in the Holy Land, may it be built and established^[7], in Tel Aviv, are preparing to publish^[8] in print responsa of his, as well as maamarim, discourses in the teachings of Chassidus^[9].

Regarding what you write about the tzaddik, the Chassid and the Gaon, etc., R. Shlomo Zalman of Kapust^[10]: see the book Beis Rebbe^[11], part 3, end of chapter 8 [the author of the book knew him personally], which says: "He bore the holy name of our master, the Alter Rebbe, of blessed memory (meaning the author of the Tanya), and of his grandfather, the Chassid R. Shlomo Freides, of blessed memory^[12]. In many places^[13] he signed with one name only, Shlomo Zalman or Sh. Zalman; in one place we saw his signature thus: Shlomo Sh. Zalman." His passing was on 27 Iyar 5660 [1900], and he rests in honor in Kapust. His only son, the distinguished Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, R. Yehudah Leib, did not serve as a rabbi at all; his livelihood was in trade.

Separately^[14], the collection Hayom Yom is being sent to you^[15]; at its beginning is printed the order of the chain of lineage of the above, the family of the Rebbe [the author of] the Tanya in general^[16].

With esteem and blessing.

Publisher's notes

Reb Moshe Chaim Ephraim (מו"ה משה חיים אפרים): Bloch, Bronx.

Notes

1. The distinguished Chassid… etc. (הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ וכו'): הוו"ח = הוותיק וחסיד, "the distinguished Chassid"; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים, "a G‑d-fearing man"; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד, "distinguished and honored".

2. Reb Moshe Chaim Ephraim (מו"ה משה חיים אפרים שי'): Bloch, Bronx (per the publisher's note). R. Moshe Chaim Ephraim Bloch (known as Dr. Chaim Bloch, 1881–1973), author and researcher who published many books on Chassidus and Jewish lore, among them HaHeichal, a collection of sayings of the Sages not recorded in earlier indexes; having fled Vienna, he reached the United States in 1939. Further letters to him: above, vol. 3, letters 448 and 457 (5709, comments on his Heichal); vol. 16, letter 5984 (13 Teves 5718, acknowledging his book Mi Nasan Limshisa Yaakov and encouraging him to compile a treasury of sayings from medieval literature); below, vol. 19, letters 7096 and 7171 (5720, on the letters in Dovev Sifsei Yesheinim attributed to the Rogatchover Gaon). That he is the recipient of the vol. 3 letters is shown by the publisher's note to letter 5984 ("further letters to him: above, vol. 3, 448, 457"). This letter answers his question about two grandsons of the Tzemach Tzedek.

3. The fifth [Chanukah] light (מנר החמישי): The fifth day of Chanukah, when five lights are kindled, i.e. 29 Kislev 5719.

4. The tzaddik, the Chassid and the Gaon (במ"ש אודות הרה"צ הרה"ח והרה"ג): במ"ש = במה שכתב, "regarding what you write"; הרה"צ הרה"ח והרה"ג = הרב הצדיק, הרב החסיד והרב הגאון.

5. R. Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn of Bobruisk (ר' שמרי' נח שניאורסאהן מבאברויסק): R. Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn (1842–1923), youngest son of R. Yehudah Leib (the Maharil) of Kapust, son of the Tzemach Tzedek. In 1872 his uncle, the Rebbe Maharash, appointed him rav of the Chassidim in Bobruisk, where he served as the last Rebbe of the Kapust branch and in 1901 founded a yeshivah. His discourses were printed as Shemen LaMaor (two volumes, Kfar Chabad, 5724–5726), edited by his grandchildren.

6. He rests in honor (ומנ"כ): ומנ"כ = ומנוחתו כבוד.

7. May they live long… may it be built and established (שליט"א… באה"ק ת"ו): שליט"א = שיחיו לאורך ימים טובים אמן; באה"ק ת"ו = בארץ הקודש תבנה ותכונן.

8. To publish (להו"ל): להו"ל = להוציא לאור.

9. Responsa… and maamarim (שו"ת ממנו וכן מאמרים): A few years later his grandchildren did publish his discourses as Shemen LaMaor (Kfar Chabad, 5724–5726).

10. R. Shlomo Zalman of Kapust (הרש"ז מקאפוסט): הרש"ז = הרב שלמה זלמן. R. Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn of Kapust (1830–1900), son of the Maharil of Kapust and brother of R. Shmaryahu Noach above, who succeeded his father in Kapust, author of Magen Avos.

11. Beis Rebbe (בית רבי): Beis Rebbe, a history of the Alter Rebbe, his sons and disciples, by R. Chaim Meir Heilman (Berditchev, 1902).

12. R. Shlomo Freides (ר' שלמה פריידעס): נ"ע = נשמתו עדן; זלה"ה = זכרונו לברכה לחיי העולם הבא. R. Shlomo Zalman bore two names, after two forebears – "Shlomo" and "Zalman" – which is why his signatures varied.

13. In many places (בכ"מ): בכ"מ = בכמה מקומות.

14. Separately (בפ"ע): בפ"ע = בפני עצמו, i.e. under separate cover.

15. To you (לכ'): לכ' = לכבודו.

16. The chain of lineage (סדר שלשלת היחס): Hayom Yom (Kehot, 5703), compiled by the Rebbe, opens with the chain of lineage of the Alter Rebbe's family.

Summary

Answering R. Moshe Chaim Ephraim (Chaim) Bloch's questions, the Rebbe gives what he knows of two grandsons of the Tzemach Tzedek: R. Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn of Bobruisk (passed away 15 Teves 5683; his grandchildren in Tel Aviv were preparing his writings for print) and R. Shlomo Zalman of Kapust, quoting Beis Rebbe on his name and signatures (passed away 27 Iyar 5660; his only son was a merchant). He sends Hayom Yom, which opens with the family's chain of lineage.