6785 —ההכרח בחזית דתית טכנית מאוחדת לבחירות, והזריזות בהקמתה

B"H, 23 Adar II^[1], 5719
Brooklyn, N.Y.

The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs, of many accomplishments^[2], our teacher Reb Shlomo Zalman, may he live long^[3]

I received in its time your note of 16 Adar I^[4] with its enclosure^[5]. Surely, when there is a continuation in this matter, you will kindly let me know; many thanks in advance^[6].

On this occasion I must express my surprise that nothing has yet been heard about a united front^[7].

You^[8] know my view, that in the previous elections too a united religious front was a necessity. And just as my opinion is clear, with full force, against a permanent front, so is my opinion clear that a united technical religious front^[9] is a necessity for the elections – and with still greater force in the present situation, when the leftists have grown stronger, which is not so among the religious. Since we have seen in the past how difficult it is to organize the front, which demands preparation in good time, and long preparation, it is certainly necessary to make haste in this, especially in view of the general situation, in which there is reason to fear surprises from the leftists to capture public opinion. Therefore a failure to act in good time could cause harm that cannot be estimated in advance.

Incidentally, I spoke about this matter with Mr. Chaim Moshe Shapira^[10], may he live long, when we met here, and I hope he told you about it at a suitable opportunity.

And in these days of the month in which we increase in joy^[11], I will conclude with a matter of joy, and a blessing to you on the birth of your grandson, may he live long. May it be G‑d's will that the parents, may they live long, raise him to Torah, to the marriage canopy and to good deeds^[12], and may they and you have from him much true nachas and Chassidic nachas.

With respect and blessing.

Publisher's notes

Reb Shlomo Zalman (מוהרש"ז): Shragai, Jerusalem. Further letters to him: above, vol. 17, letter 6266, and the references in the notes there.

Notes

1. 23 Adar II (כ"ג אד"ש): אד"ש = אדר שני, Adar II (5719 was a leap year). 23 Adar II 5719 was Thursday, 2 April 1959.

2. The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs, of many accomplishments (הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ רב פעלים): הוו"ח = הוותיק וחסיד; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד; עוסק בצ"צ = עוסק בצרכי ציבור. רב פעלים, "of many accomplishments", from the verse [Shmuel II 23:20] in praise of Benayahu ben Yehoyada.

3. Our teacher Reb Shlomo Zalman (מוהרש"ז): מוהרש"ז = מורנו הרב רבי שלמה זלמן. Shragai, Jerusalem (per the publisher's note). R. Shlomo Zalman Shragai, a leader of Mizrachi and Hapoel HaMizrachi, who was elected mayor of Jerusalem in 1950 and served about two years, and afterwards headed the Aliyah Department of the Jewish Agency. The Rebbe corresponded with him on religious matters in Eretz Yisrael, such as Shabbos and kashrus on Israeli ships (vol. 16, letter 6089; vol. 17, letter 6266), and during his visit to New York in the summer of 5718 they also discussed founding a second Kfar Chabad, which the Rebbe asked him to help (vol. 17, letter 6348).

4. 16 Adar I (ט"ז אדר א'): Tuesday, 24 February 1959.

5. With its enclosure (עם המוסג"ב): המוסג"ב = המוסגר בו, "enclosed in it".

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

7. A united front (חזית מאוחדת): A joint list of all the religious parties for the Knesset elections, which were held at the end of 1959. The Rebbe had pressed for it in the previous elections as well: in 5711 (vol. 4, letter 1043, to Mr. Moshe Shapira: "I was alarmed by your telegram about the breaking up of the religious front"; and letter 1109: "Great is the pain, and the shame, that the front did not come about") and in 5715 (vol. 11, letter 3599: "it is understood how painful it is that the matter of the united religious front did not come about"). Hence his surprise here that nothing has yet been heard. Later that year: letter 6925 (10 Tammuz 5719): "even if there will be a united religious front (as for myself, I have not yet given up hope for this, although by all reports there is no enthusiasm among the parties for the idea)"; and letter 7025 (Days of Selichos 5719, to Mr. Binyamin Mintz): "the letter (and the telegram) about the front with Agudas Yisrael was received".

8. You (לכ'): כ' = כבודו, "his honor".

9. A united technical religious front (חזית דתית טכנית מאוחדת): A joint list for the elections alone, not a merger of outlooks and parties. As the Rebbe wrote in vol. 11, letter 3677: "I have emphasized several times that my view is not as above but only and exclusively towards the elections, for as great as the benefit of setting up this religious front with regard to the elections, so great is the harm of a bloc that is not technical but of outlooks". משא"כ = מה שאין כן, "which is not so".

10. Mr. Chaim Moshe Shapira (מר חיים משה שי' שפירא): R. Chaim Moshe Shapira, a leader of Hapoel HaMizrachi and later the National Religious Party, who served as Minister of the Interior, of Religions and of Welfare in Israeli governments; in the Rebbe's letters he is also called "Mr. Moshe Shapira" (e.g. vol. 4, letter 1043, on the religious front). On his conversation with the Rebbe about the elections, see also letter 6925 (10 Tammuz 5719): "Following the visit to me of Mr. Chaim Moshe Shapira… in connection with the coming elections".

11. The month in which we increase in joy (החודש שמרבין בו בשמחה): From our Sages' saying [Taanis 29a]: "כשם שמשנכנס אב ממעטין בשמחה כך משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה", "Just as when Av enters we decrease in joy, so when Adar enters we increase in joy." Here, Adar II.

12. To Torah, to the marriage canopy and to good deeds (לתורה ולחופה ולמעשים טובים): From the blessing at a bris [Shabbos 137b]: "כשם שנכנס לברית, כך יכנס לתורה, לחופה, ולמע"ט", "Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, the marriage canopy and good deeds."

Summary

The Rebbe expresses his surprise that nothing has been heard about a united religious front for the coming Knesset elections. He opposes a permanent front but holds that a technical joint list for the elections is a necessity, all the more now that the left has grown stronger, and must be prepared early. He closes with a blessing on the birth of the recipient's grandson.