Communal Effort
“All Jews are responsible for each other.” As we forever strive to work on ourselves to effect positive change on the world, we must never forget: the path to self-improvement lies in mutual respect and caring. The Avner Institute presents two letters highlighting the Rebbe’s emphasis on an individual’s assertive Torah observance, with focus on the needs of our brethren, over grandiose but redundant organizations.
Dedicated in memory of loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
“There is no cause for such fear”
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5741
Brooklyn, NY
Norwalk, Conn.
Greeting and Blessing:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your undated letter. As requested, I will again remember you in prayer for the fulfillment of your heart’s desires for good in the matters about which you wrote.
To begin on a good note, I am pleased to see that you are making advancement in Yiddishkeit. No doubt you know of the basic principle of Yiddishkeit that “the essential thing is action.” Thus, I trust that your advancement in Yiddishkeit is expressed in terms of actual fulfillment of the mitzvoth in the everyday life, and may G-d grant that you should continue from strength to strength in this direction.
Command & Promise
As for your mentioning “I fear holiness,” etc.—surely there is no cause for such fear, since holiness is an attribute which G-d has bestowed upon our Jewish people when He gave us the Torah, as it is expressly written, “You shall be unto Me a kingdom of Kohanim (G-d’s servants) and a holy nation.” Like all G-d’s commandments, this, too, implies both a command and a promise, which means that G-d provides the strength and ability to live up to His commands. Moreover, there is also the promise that “he who is bent on purifying himself receives aid from On High.” Thus, in the final analysis, it is mainly a matter of one’s own will and determination.
Now that we are approaching the festival of Pesach, I send you my prayerful wishes that the Festival of Our Freedom bring you and yours true freedom, freedom from anxiety material and spiritual, from anything which might distract from serving G-d wholeheartedly and with joy, and to carry over this freedom and joy into the whole year.
Wishing you and yours a Kosher and Happy Pesach,
With blessing,
[signature]
P.S. With regard to your desire to come to see me personally, I regret that for reasons beyond my control, private audiences are still held in abeyance. But in your case, there is really no need for it. If there are some things that you would like to clarify, you could surely see an Orthodox rabbi in your vicinity and talk things over with him personally.
“To all that is good and holy”
By the Grace of G-d
7 Tishrei 5745
Brooklyn, NY
Mr.——
c/o Agudas Israel
England
Greeting and Blessing:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence of the 14th and 18th of Sept., with the enclosures.
To begin with a bracha [blessing,] I extend to you and all yours prayerful wishes for a chasima u’gmar chasima tova [sealed and inscribed New Year], and the fulfillment of your heart’s desires for good in all the matters about which you wrote, both general and personal.
There is no need to emphasize the importance of the efforts to help our brethren behind the Iron Curtain, as well as those who have been released from there, as you surely know the declaration of the Mishna that even “one person is like a whole world,” and, indeed, as Adam Harishon [primordial man] was one in the whole world.
You do not mention anything about your personal health, which I assume has fully improved since your writing to me about it some time ago. I have had this also confirmed by mutual friends, of whom I inquire about you from time to time.
I take this opportunity to enclose copies of the general letters I connection with Rosh Hashanah.
Practical Purpose
With reference to your asking why I have not commented on certain topics of your previous correspondence, you can surmise it from my reference to your suggestion about a revival of the “World Joint Orthodox Jewish Committee.” With all due respect, I do not see that such an organization at this time would serve a practical purpose, considering the situation in various circles. However, I do not want to dwell on this subject, especially as we are now in the middle of the Ten Days of Teshuva [Repentance], when one should be particularly careful not to say anything disparaging about another Jew.
If you think that you can succeed in reviving such an organization, Lubavitch will, of course, participate, provided that it will truly reflect the name in regard to “world,” “joint,” as well as “Orthodox.”
As a matter of fact, if only everyone, as an individual leader, or layman, would do his share even without a concerted effort, to act in the real spirit of the Torah, without an admixture of irrelevant aspects, this would be the most practical way to improve the present Jewish situation everywhere, and in the great measure. And though at this time, in the Ten Days of Teshuva, “Your people are all righteous,” there is surely room for further improvement, since there is no limit to all that is good and holy. This would also be a very good preparation for an eventual establishment of a “World Joint Orthodox Jewish Committee”—should there still be a need for it.
The above subject is particularly alluded to in the enclosed general letters, although necessarily briefly, within the limits of a letter.
In conclusion, as in the opening—may Hashem grant that all the chasima u’gmar chasima tova that Hashem gives each and all of us in the midst of our people should be included also the above, namely that everyone should utilize in the fullest measure all one’s capacities and opportunities to spread and strengthen Yiddishkeit, Torah and mitzvoth, with joy and gladness of heart.
With esteem and blessing,
[signature]
P.S. With reference to your mentioning about an inscription, etc.—generally I am careful, as much as possible, not to change any of the customs and traditions of Beis HaRav.
During all the years, I have not seen that my father-in-law of saintly memory has acceded to any such request. On the other hand, by way of a special recognition, I will change that inscription to an inscription in a Sefer Tanya, since I have seen this done by my father-in-law of saintly memory.
The essential thing is, that it will, hopefully, encourage you to increase your shiurim [lessons] in Tanya, and this will be my reward.
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