This letter was sent to the members of the chassidic community in Paris.

B”H, 7 Adar I, 5711,
Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

Through our friend R. Benyamin Gorodetzky I was informed of your positive decision to establish a study session for Chassidus in the hall of the Lishkah1once a week, in two groups, so that all the members of the chassidic brotherhood from all the different factions can participate together. Surely you will endeavor to fulfill the desired goal of spreading the wellsprings outward with all the specifications involved as explained in my letter of the past Yud Kislev.2 This serves both as a preparatory step and a medium for the coming of Mashiach speedily.

The suggestion made concerning the matter of ritual slaughterers is very good; i.e., that [both] those who are already proficient and those who are not yet proficient — both in the actual task and in the thorough knowledge of the [relevant] laws — should review and continue studying. This applies even though some of you are already serving in the position of ritual slaughterers. The Rabbis of the chassidic brotherhood should oversee this.

It is known that [for ritual slaughter], in addition to the knowledge of the laws and the craft of ritual slaughter, yiras Shamayim (the fear of Heaven) is a fundamental requirement (see the Alter Rebbe’s responsa, responsum 9; see also the responsum of the Tzemach Tzedek (Yoreh Deah, responsum 12; Shaar HaMiluim, secs. 15-18). This is required of a ritual slaughterer even more than from a Rabbi. May we merit the promised day when the Great Slaughterer, the Holy One, blessed be He, will come, as our Sages state (Sukkah 52a).3

I will take pleasure in hearing good news from all of you with regard to your material concerns and [also] that you are fulfilling and are conscious of your mission, and that you, your wives, your sons, and your daughters are all connected and bound to the Nasi of the generation, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe. He is the head and the brain of this generation and all [of us] are parts of the body of this generation. Certainly, the head will secure the good fortune of the part ([granting far more than] the mere satisfaction of one of an individual’s personal needs) in both spiritual and material matters.

With blessings and with greetings to each individual,