6683 —ביסוס ופיתוח השיעור בחסידות בבית הכנסת חב"ד במאה שערים, בכח יום ההילולא

B"H, 16 Shevat, 5719
Brooklyn.

The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored^[1], etc., Reb Yaakov Zev, may he live long^[2]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Many thanks^[3] for your letter of 7 Shevat, bringing good news of the development of the shiur in Chassidus^[4] at the Chabad synagogue in Meah Shearim^[5]. Surely you are not content that others are helping, but you yourself also make every effort you can to establish and develop this shiur, and likewise in all the activities of spreading the wellsprings outward, nearly all of which, after all, fall within the program of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad^[6]. All the more so since we have just come from the day of the hillula of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of saintly and blessed memory, whose soul is in the hidden treasuries on High, may his merit protect us^[7], the leader of the Jewish people, who gave his life for these very matters^[8]; and that propitious day is^[9] an increase in the help from Above, and for added effort and success in the above. May it be G‑d's will that you continue to report good news in all the above, in a manner of continual increase^[10].

With blessings,

On behalf of the Rebbe, shlita^[11]

Secretary

Publisher's notes

Reb Yaakov Zev (מו"ה יעקב זאב): Zupnik, Jerusalem.

Notes

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

2. Reb Yaakov Zev (מו"ה יעקב זאב שי'): מו"ה = מורנו הרב. Zupnik, Jerusalem (per the publisher's note). R. Yaakov Zev Zupnik of Jerusalem, who wrote to the Rebbe about the growth of the shiur in Chassidus at the Chabad synagogue in the Meah Shearim neighborhood; the Rebbe urges him not to rely on others' help, but to work himself to establish and develop the shiur.

3. Many thanks (ת"ח): ת"ח = תשואות חן.

4. Chassidus (דא"ח): דא"ח = דברי אלקים חיים, "words of the living G‑d", i.e., the teachings of Chassidus.

5. The Chabad synagogue in Meah Shearim (ביהכ"נ חב"ד במאה שערים): ביהכ"נ = בית הכנסת. The Chabad synagogue and study hall in the Meah Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem. See later, letter 7452 (13 Tishrei 5721), to "the congregants and the administration of the Chabad synagogue and study hall, Meah Shearim", where the Rebbe urges "that they strengthen themselves not only in matters of prayer but also in public Torah study, both Nigleh and Chassidus, every day" (שיתחזקו לא רק בעניני תפלה אלא גם בעניני לימוד התורה ברבים הן בנגלה והן בחסידות בכל יום).

6. Tzeirei Agudas Chabad (צעירי אגו"ח): צעירי אגו"ח = צעירי אגודת חב"ד, the young people's organization of Agudas Chassidei Chabad.

7. My father-in-law, the Rebbe… (כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): ז"ע = זה עתה, "just now". The day of the hillula is Yud Shevat, the day of the Previous Rebbe's passing in 5710; this year it was the ninth, six days before this letter. כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר = כבוד קדושת מורי וחמי אדונינו מורנו ורבנו, my father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn; זצוקללה"ה = זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, "may the memory of the righteous and holy one be for a blessing, for the life of the World to Come"; נבג"מ = נשמתו בגנזי מרומים, "his soul is in the hidden treasuries on High"; זי"ע = זכותו יגן עלינו, "may his merit protect us".

8. Who gave his life for these very matters (אשר מסר נפשו על ענינים האמורים): That is, for spreading Torah and Judaism; as the Rebbe writes in letter 1710 of "his release from arrest (for his work founding yeshivos and Talmud Torahs and strengthening Judaism, in that country)" (זיין באפרייאונג פון פארהאפטונג (פאר זיין ארבעט צו גרינדען ישיבות, תלמוד תורה'ת והחזקת היהדות, אין יענער מדינה)).

9. Is (ה"ז): ה"ז = הרי זה. The day of the hillula is a "propitious day" that adds help from Above; therefore one must add in one's own effort as well.

10. In a manner of continual increase (ובאופן דמוסיף והולך): Following the wording of the Gemara, Shabbos 21b, on the Chanukah lights: וב"ה אומרים: יום ראשון מדליק אחת, מכאן ואילך מוסיף והולך, "Beis Hillel say: on the first day one lights one; from then on one continually adds." That is, growth that does not stand still but increases from day to day.

11. On behalf of the Rebbe, shlita (בשם כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א): כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א = כבוד קדושת אדוננו מורנו ורבנו שיחי' לאורך ימים טובים אמן, "His holiness, our master, teacher and Rebbe, may he live for many good days, amen". This letter was written and signed by the Rebbe's secretariat, in his name and on his behalf.

Summary

The Rebbe's secretariat thanks a Jerusalem Chassid for good news of the growing Chassidus shiur at the Chabad synagogue in Meah Shearim, and urges him not to rely on others but to work himself to establish and develop it, together with all the work of spreading Chassidus. Coming right after Yud Shevat, the hillula of the Previous Rebbe, who gave his life for this, brings added help from Above and calls for added effort.