6642 —ביקור בבית הדפוס החדש בכפר חב"ד ועזרה לו בעצה; אוירא דארץ ישראל לבריאות הנפש והגוף

B"H, 13th of Teves, 5719
Brooklyn, N.Y.

The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, honored, our teacher^[1] Reb Michal Yehoshua, may he live long^[2]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I inquired of your brother, may he live, about your well-being and the state of your health, and above all the state of your spirits; and I hope that by the time my letter reaches you there has already been a real improvement. Especially as I know your love for our Holy Land, may it be built and established^[3] speedily in our days by our righteous Moshiach, surely the air of the Land of Israel^[4] should influence you in the desired direction, not only in health and added strength of the soul, but also in health and added strength of the body, for the one depends on the other^[5]. It will be a pleasure for me to receive good news from you in all the above.

Surely it is unnecessary to urge you, especially in view of the connection between your printing house here and the printing work of Lubavitch^[6], that it is fitting and also right that you visit the printing house that has been established in Kfar Chabad^[7], in addition to your visits to the other Chabad institutions. And besides the matter itself, you can no doubt bring this new institution in Kfar Chabad great benefit with advice and guidance, etc., especially since this printing house is at its beginning, and who is as expert and experienced in this profession as you?

Please be so kind as to convey regards^[8] to your honored father, may he live, although I do not know him personally.

I shall await good news in all the above.

With blessings for good news^[9], with joy and gladness of heart^[10].

Publisher's notes

Reb Michal Yehoshua (מו"ה מיכל יהושע): Shulsinger. Another letter to him: vol. 12, 3887.

Notes

1. The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man... our teacher (הוו"ח אי"א... מו"ה): הוו"ח = הוותיק וחסיד, "the veteran Chassid"; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים, "a G‑d-fearing man"; מו"ה = מורנו הרב, "our teacher, Reb".

2. Reb Michal Yehoshua (מו"ה מיכל יהושע שי'): Shulsinger (as in the publisher's note). R. Michal Yehoshua Shulsinger, born in Jerusalem (1906), who emigrated to the United States in 1928 and was a partner with his brother R. Shmuel in the New York printing house Shulsinger Brothers (Shulsinger Bros.), one of the largest Jewish printing houses in the world, which printed many sacred books. Further letters to him: 3887 (16 Cheshvan 5716), on the bar mitzvah of his son Amiel; and below, vol. 27, 10310 (25 Teves 5732), to him and his brother R. Shmuel, in which the Rebbe urges them to publish a fine edition of the Jerusalem Talmud and speaks of "the tradition of their printing house, to be one 'engaged in holy work'". This letter was written while the recipient was in the Holy Land and his health was not good.

3. May it be built and established (תבנה ותכונן): In the language of the verse (Bamidbar 21:27), תבנה ותכונן עיר סיחון, "let the city of Sichon be built and established"; the Rebbe uses these words as a blessing for our Holy Land.

4. The air of the Land of Israel (אוירא דארץ ישראל): After the saying of R. Zeira (Bava Basra 158b), אוירא דארץ ישראל מחכים, "the air of the Land of Israel makes one wise". The Rebbe adds that the air of the Land of Israel affects not only the mind and the soul, but the health of the body as well.

5. For the one depends on the other (שהא בהא תליא): Aramaic, "this depends on that": the health of the soul and the health of the body depend on each other, and improvement in one brings improvement in the other.

6. Their printing house here and Lubavitch printing (בית הדפוס שלהם פה עם עניני הדפוס דליובאוויטש): That is, the Shulsinger Brothers' printing house in New York is connected with the printing work of Lubavitch, which is why the Rebbe asks that while in the Holy Land he visit the new printing house in Kfar Chabad as well.

7. The printing house established in Kfar Chabad (בית הדפוס שהוקם בכפר חב"ד): That is, a new printing house just set up in Kfar Chabad, still "at its beginning", so that the recipient, a man of the trade with long experience, can benefit it with advice and guidance. See also letter 7193 (16 Shevat 5720), where the Rebbe mentions "the vocational schools, such as the schools for printing and crafts in Kfar Chabad".

8. Regards (פ"ש): פ"ש = פריסת שלום, "greetings, regards".

9. Good news (לבשו"ט): לבשו"ט = לבשורות טובות.

10. With joy and gladness of heart (מתוך שמחה וטוב לבב): In the language of the verse (Devarim 28:47): "because you did not serve G‑d your G‑d with joy and with gladness of heart".

Summary

Writing to the New York printer R. Michal Yehoshua Shulsinger while he was ill during a stay in the Holy Land, the Rebbe hopes the air of the Land of Israel will strengthen him in soul and in body alike. He asks him, in view of his printing house's ties with Lubavitch printing, to visit the newly established printing house in Kfar Chabad and help it with his expertise.