6655 —הוספה בעבודת הקודש בקהלה ולימוד החסידות, ושאלת ייסוד בי"ס תיכון מעורב

B"H, 23rd of Teves, 5719
Brooklyn.

The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored^[1], whose work is the work of Heaven^[2],
Rabbi Yosef E., may he live long^[3]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After a very long interruption^[4], your letter of Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Mikeitz^[5] was received, and the one before it, in which you write an outline^[6] of your holy work in the community of Gibraltar.

May it be G‑d's will that you increase in this more and more, for we have been commanded that "one ascends in holiness"^[7]; and as with every command of G‑d, blessed be He^[8], Creator of the world and its Ruler, the powers and the possibilities to fulfill the command are given in advance^[9] — especially in communal matters, in which "the merit of the many helps him"^[10]. May it be G‑d's will that you do this with energy and amid joy and gladness of heart^[11], for this too adds to the success of the work; and may you give good news in all the above.

I have strong hope — although you do not mention this — that you set fixed times^[12] for the study of the inner dimension of the Torah, which in our generation has been revealed in the teachings of Chassidus. If this is demanded of each and every one in our time, how much more so^[13] of those who have influence on the souls of the Jews in their community; for every addition in themselves is felt among the people of the community, they and all their households. And this is easy to understand^[14].

With respect, and with the blessing of mazal tov on the birth of the son Mordechai, may he live, of whom you inform me in your letter: may you and your wife raise him, together with your sons, may they live, to Torah, to the marriage canopy and to good deeds^[15].

With blessings for good news^[16].

...^[17] As to what you write about efforts to found a high school^[18] — but then they would study in mixed classes^[19], unlike now:

If study in the state schools^[20] does not compel the pupils to desecrate the holy Shabbos, may G‑d spare us, then "sit and do not act" is preferable^[21] for the time being.

Publisher's notes

Rabbi Yosef E. (הרב יוסף ע.): Pacifici, Gibraltar. Further letters to him: above, vol. 14, letter 4905. Below, letter 6879.

Notes

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

2. Whose work is the work of Heaven (מלאכתו מלאכת שמים): From R. Yishmael's words to R. Meir, Eruvin 13a: "My son, be careful in your work, for your work is the work of Heaven." Here, a title for a rav engaged in holy work in his community.

3. Rabbi Yosef E. (הרב יוסף ע.): E. = Emanuel. Rabbi Yosef Emanuel Pacifici, Gibraltar (as in the publisher's note below). Born in Florence in 1928, the son of Yehudah Menachem Alfonso Pacifici, a leading figure of Torah-true Judaism in Italy; he received semichah in London and served as rabbi of the community of Gibraltar from 1956 to 1969. He later settled in Eretz Yisrael, where he passed away in 2021. Some time before Kislev 5717 he wrote to the Rebbe from Tangier "about the contract that was signed, that in a few days we are moving to Gibraltar", and the Rebbe blessed him "that it be at a good and successful hour, and that the desire of G‑d succeed in his hand to spread genuine Judaism there", urging him also to the "practices and guidance of the inner dimension of the Torah, which in our generation has been revealed in the teachings of Chassidus" (letter 4905, 5 Kislev 5717). This letter arrived after a long interruption, with an outline of his work in Gibraltar. Later the Rebbe wrote to him that he had heard that his father "excels in his Italian style", and suggested he write easily understood articles for "Italian-speaking youth and young people" (below, letter 6879, 27 Iyar 5719); and in Sivan 5721 the Rebbe agreed with his decision not to leave his place and post, "since he is apparently the only one active in spreading traditional Judaism in a way that succeeds", and suggested that he visit Spain and Portugal from time to time (letter 7673).

4. After a very long interruption (לאחרי הפסק הכי ארוך): That is, after a very long time in which no letters had arrived from him.

5. Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Mikeitz (ממוצש"ק מקץ): מוצש"ק = מוצאי שבת קודש. In that year the night after Shabbos Mikeitz was the night of 3 Teves, Zos Chanukah.

6. An outline (ר"פ): ר"פ = ראשי פרקים, main points.

7. One ascends in holiness (מעלין בקדש): Shabbos 21b: "And the reason of Beis Hillel is that one ascends in holiness and does not descend." In matters of holiness one must keep adding and rising, like the Chanukah lights, which keep increasing.

8. G‑d, blessed be He (השי"ת): השי"ת = השם יתברך.

9. The powers... are given in advance (מראש נתנים הכחות): Cf. Avodah Zarah 3a: "the Holy One, blessed be He, does not come with excessive demands upon His creatures"; Rashi: "with a pretext". G‑d does not demand of a person what is beyond his power; since He commanded, He gave in advance the powers to fulfill the command.

10. The merit of the many helps him (שזכות הרבים מסייעתו): Cf. Avos 2:2: "All who work with the community should work with them for the sake of Heaven, for the merit of their fathers helps them."

11. Joy and gladness of heart (שמחה וטוב לבב): From the verse Devarim 28:47: "because you did not serve G‑d your G‑d with joy and gladness of heart, out of an abundance of everything".

12. Set fixed times (שקובע עתים): From Shabbos 31a: "When a person is brought to judgment, he is asked... did you set fixed times for Torah?"

13. How much more so (מכאו"א... עאכו"כ): מכאו"א = מכל אחד ואחד, "of each and every one"; עאכו"כ = על אחת כמה וכמה, "how much more so".

14. This is easy to understand (ב"ב... וק"ל): ב"ב = בני ביתם, "their households"; וק"ל = וקל להבין. A rav, who influences the souls of his community, will see every addition of his own in the study of the inner dimension of the Torah reflected in the members of his community and their families; so it is all the more his duty to set fixed times for Chassidus.

15. To Torah, to the marriage canopy and to good deeds (לתורה ולחופה ולמעשים טובים): From Shabbos 137b: "Those standing by say: Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, the marriage canopy and good deeds."

16. Good news (בשו"ט): בשו"ט = בשורות טובות.

17. ... (...): Part of the letter was not printed; what follows is an excerpt.

18. A high school (בי"ס תיכון): במש"כ = במה שכתב, "as to what you write"; בי"ס = בית ספר, "school".

19. In mixed classes (בתערובות): In the new high school boys and girls would study together, whereas now they do not. On separating boys and girls in the classes in this year, see above, letters 6537 and 6596.

20. The state schools (בי"ס הממלכתים): The government schools; הש"ק = השבת קודש, "the holy Shabbos".

21. "Sit and do not act" is preferable (שב ואל תעשה עדיף): The Gemara's phrase, Eruvin 100a. לע"ע = לעת עתה, "for the time being". As long as study in the government schools does not compel desecrating Shabbos, it is better for now not to found a high school where they would study in mixed classes.

Summary

The Rebbe encourages the rabbi of Gibraltar to keep increasing his holy work in the community, since G‑d gives in advance the strength to fulfill His commands, and hopes that he sets fixed times for studying Chassidus, whose effect is felt in his whole community. He blesses him on the birth of his son Mordechai, and advises against founding a mixed high school as long as the state schools do not force Shabbos desecration.