Before Rosh Hashana 5711, the Rebbe began a new custom. Each holiday, he would write a letter addressed to “the sons and daughters of our People Israel, everywhere,” where he would explain the basic meaning of the holiday and give a practical lesson that could be applied in everyday life.
The letters, written in Yiddish, were then translated into Hebrew (first by Rabbi Uriel Tzimmer, then by Rabbi Chanoch Glitzenstien, and then by Rabbi Tuviah Blau). In addition to being distributed in Chabad communities, chassidim would ensure that the letter was published in newspapers to reach a much broader audience.
Davar, identified as the “newspaper of the Israeli laborer,” regularly printed the letter. Its founding editor was Berel Katzenelson, and later Shneur Zalman Rubashov, future President Zalman Shazar. Davar was the most widely distributed newspaper among the Jewish population of the Holy Land, and it later became the main voice for Mapai, the country’s leading political party.
Shmuel Gorman was an observant Jew and lived in Benei Brak and worked as a typesetter in “Beit hotza’at sefarim u’dfus omanut,” the Davar publishing house on Shenkin St. in Tel Aviv.
41 years ago, he wrote the following letter to the Rebbe: “I have had the great merit on several occasions to typeset the Rebbe’s Pesach letter in the course of my work at Davar. With that merit, I request the Rebbe’s blessing for myself and my family. As our sages said, ‘A Tzaddik rules and Hashem fulfills,’ so may it be His will.”
Attached below are the two Pesach letters of that year, dated Rosh Chodesh Nissan and Yud Alef Nissan, as they were published in the Davar.
On Mr. Gorman’s actual letter, the Rebbe answered the following:
“B”H. 28 Nissan 5740.
“I acknowledge the receipt of your letter, along with your request for a blessing and your pidyon nefesh. I will read it in an auspicious hour at the resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.”
“May Hashem grant you the merit and success to utilize your talents and the opportunities placed before you to spread authentic Judaism, Torah and Mitzvos.
“With blessing, the Rebbe’s signature.
“P.S. check your Tefillin and Mezuzos.
“A special thank you for the beautiful typesetting of my letter (which you attached in your letter) with the emphasized letters etc.”
The picture of the Rebbe’s handwriting is being released in a special booklet published by Lahak in honor of this Yud Alef Nissan, the beginning of the Rebbe’s 120th year. The main item in this special booklet is the Rebbe’s talk from 20 Cheshvan 5740, explaining chapter 120 in Tehillim—the Rebbe’s new kapitel.
To download the booklet, click here: www.lahak.org/5073687
Lahak has also informed our contact that only several dozen sets are left in their special sale of the Rebbe’s Maamarim, in honor of Yud Alef Nissan and Lahak’s fortieth anniversary. To order, log onto www.lahak.org/sale.
