Weekly Moment With the Rebbe

Rebbe can I make Aliya? In what month can one tell people they are expecting a child? To his Chassidim, the Rebbe was more than a guide or advisor – he was a human being endowed with superhuman strength to involve himself in every aspect of their lives. The Avner Institute presents a series of letters to Englishman Benjamin Saachs highlighting the Rebbe’s special attention and relationship to his Chassidim.

Correspondence from the Rebbe to Benjamin Saachs.

“Palace of the Divine King of Kings.”

On moving to Eretz Yisroel.

By the Grace of G-d
5 Tishrei 5718
Brooklyn, NY

Mr. & Mrs. B. Saacks
15 Stoke Newington Common
London, N. 16,
England

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your letter of Erev Rosh Hashanah, in which you write about the suggestion of your settling in the Holy Land, and you ask my opinion.

I must say, frankly, that I am not in favor of it, for many reasons, of which I will mention only two – one material and the other spiritual.

The spiritual reason is that, inasmuch as Eretz Yisroel is the Holy Land, which even non-Jews acknowledge as such, it is necessary to have special preparations before taking my permanent residence there. Even a brief visit to the royal palace of a king requires special preparations, how much more so before one can take up permanent residences there; and our Holy Land has been called the Palace of the Divine King of Kings.

You have only just recently been married and started a new life, which has yet to be solidly established on the foundations of the Torah and mitzvoth, in the maximum possible way. When this has been done, then you could reconsider the question of settling in the Holy Land.

On economic grounds, one reason is that marriage imposes new obligations and increased expenses, etc. It would be too much of a task and strain for you to try to set up a home and establish yourself economically in the Holy Land at present, where conditions, language, etc., are entirely different from those in England.

As mentioned above, these are only two out of many reasons. At any rate, if, G-d forbid, the Moshiach will not come with the next year or two, for at least that period of time it is my considered opinion that you will do well to set up your home in England, on the foundations of Torah and mitzvoth.

Wishing you chasima ugmar chasima toiva [be sealed for a good New Year],

With blessing,

[signature]

“In all matters of Torah and mitzvoth”

On “the purpose of all farbrengens.”

By the Grace of G-d
17 Shevat 5719
Brooklyn, NY

Mr. Benjamin Saachs
56 Filey Ave.
Clapton
London, E.5
England

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your two letters.

In connection with your change of address, I send you my prayerful wishes that the change of place be a change for the good and blessing, both materially and spiritually.

With regard to the good news that your wife is pregnant, many G-d grant that she should have a normal pregnancy and a normal delivery at the proper time and in an auspicious hour. I hope you know of the advice of my father-in-law of saintly memory, that such cases should not be publicized until entering the fifth month of pregnancy, except, of course, to the closest relatives.

I hope you participated in a farbrengen in connection with the yahrzeit of my father-in-law, on the 10th of Shevat. The important thing, of course, is that, in accordance with the purpose of all farbrengens, the inspiration and influence should be lasting and fruitful of good deeds in all matters of Torah and mitzvoth, in a growing measure.

Hoping to hear good news from your always,

With blessing,

[signature]

You ask my advice how you should cope with your tzedakah obligation, which you find difficult at this time to meet. I suggest that you should carefully note down in writing all such obligations, and you should be confident that G-d will, in due course, help you fulfill them all. It would be good that every time you make a pledge for tzedakah, you should give some nominal amount at least on account.

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