6705 —בחירת מקום הדירה: בין אנ"ש, ובלי ריבוי בדמי מפתח

B"H, 1 Adar I, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After a most prolonged interruption, the reason for which is still not understood, your letter has arrived. Its content: in which place to buy a home; and you list three places.

It is proper that it be in a place where Anash^[1] are found, so that in cooperation with them you will add in Chabad matters in general, and especially in their inner point, the spreading of the wellsprings^[2]. My opinion has long been known: I am not at all pleased with spending a great deal on key money^[3] for a home so that it will be specifically in a certain neighborhood and city. For even where one's means are not limited, the money should be used for necessary matters that cannot be done without [whether private matters or communal matters], and not necessarily for key money for a home.

Understandably, it is not known here which of the three places best fits the above condition, but all this can certainly be clarified on the spot.

May it be G‑d's will that, whatever you decide, the words of our Sages, "A beautiful home broadens a person's mind"^[4], be fulfilled in the new home.

You are surely adding in your activities in spreading the wellsprings, and in general in the matters of Anash.

With blessings for good news^[5].

Notes

1. Anash (אנ"ש): אנ"ש = אנשי שלומנו, "the men of our peace", i.e. the Chassidim.

2. The spreading of the wellsprings (הפצת המעינות): After the verse (Mishlei 5:16) יפוצו מעינתיך חוצה ברחבות פלגי מים, "Let your wellsprings be dispersed outward, streams of water in the streets"; and as the Rebbe writes in letter 7578: "spreading the wellsprings outward, as is known from the holy letter of the Baal Shem Tov, the answer of King Moshiach: When your wellsprings are dispersed outward, [the master] will come." That is, spreading the teachings of Chassidus; here the Rebbe calls it the "inner point", the core of all Chabad activity.

3. Key money (דמי מפתח): A payment for the right to enter a home, over and above its rent or price. The Rebbe is not pleased with spending large sums only so that the home will be in a particular neighborhood or city; even when the means are there, they are better used for what is truly needed.

4. "A beautiful home broadens a person's mind" (דירה נאה מרחיבה דעתו של אדם): Berachos 57b: שלשה מרחיבין דעתו של אדם. אלו הן: דירה נאה, ואשה נאה, וכלים נאים, "Three things broaden a person's mind: a beautiful home, a beautiful wife and beautiful vessels." רז"ל = רבותינו זכרונם לברכה, "our Sages of blessed memory".

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

Summary

Answering a correspondent who asks in which of three places to buy a home, the Rebbe advises living where Anash are, so as to work together with them in Chabad activities and above all in spreading Chassidus; he repeats his long-held objection to paying large sums of key money just to live in a particular neighborhood, and blesses the new home with the Sages' words that a beautiful home broadens the mind.