This letter was sent to R. Yaakov Katz of Chicago, one of the initial supporters of Lubavitch activities in America.

B”H, 27 Adar I, 5711,
Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

In reply to your letter of 23 Adar I:...

With regard to the situation in the synagogue: In connection with what you wrote, that the financial situation of the synagogue is critical and therefore the Rabbi’s salary has not been paid for the last two months: Mr. Levitansky spoke about this matter with me by telephone Saturday night. Certainly, you are aware of this.

I told him my opinion, that to the extent that I am aware, from the relationship my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, shared with your synagogue and your Rabbi, it appears to me that, in such a situation, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, would have said that in the interim, the members should allot the money and, at the first opportunity, a drive, an appeal, or the like should be made to raise the money to cover the deficit and create a special fund to insure that it will not be necessary to take out loans.

I am very surprised that you do not write anything about Mr. Yosef Robinson’s business. I hope you will do so at the next opportunity.

I want to conclude with a short teaching from the farbrengen from this past Shabbos, Parshas Vayakhel.In brief:1

Concerning the Torah in general, and the Written Law in particular, every word and every letter is carefully reckoned. Therefore we find many laws that are derived from one word or even one letter. Nevertheless, we find that in the parshiyos of Vayakhel and Pekudei, the entire lengthy description of the vessels of the Sanctuary and the priestly garments are repeated, [even though] they were already described in careful detail in the parshiyos of Terumah and Tetzaveh.

Seemingly, it would have been possible to write briefly that the Jews made the vessels of the Sanctuary and the priestly garments as G‑d commanded Moshe. In this way, tens of verses from the Torah could have been “saved.”

The resolution of this matter is the same as the resolution of another similar question: Why are the sacrifices of the nesiim described in Parshas Naso repeated twelve times? The resolution to that question is that each of the Nesiim accomplished a different intent with his sacrifices, as alluded to in the Midrashim on Parshas Naso ([see Torah Or, the end of Parshas Bereishis, p. 15b; Likkutei Torah, [Devarim,] Parshas [Vezos Ha]Berachah, p. 98c.)

The question concerning [the repetition in] the parshiyos of Vayakhel and Pekudei can be resolved in a similar manner:

The first description of the vessels of the Sanctuary and the priestly garments ([in the parshiyos of] Terumah and Tetzaveh)were: a) from G‑d Himself; b) to Moshe, about whom it is said:2 “None arose like him”; and c) when Moshe was on Mount Sinai, when he was on an immeasurably higher level than when he was on this earthly plane. There “he did not eat bread or drink water.”3

In contrast, [the parshiyos of] Vayakhel and Pekudei describe the vessels of the Sanctuary and the priestly garments as they were made: a) by the Jews [as a whole]; b) here on the physical plane; and c) from physical gold, silver, and brass. Nevertheless, without focusing on the great difference between the potential — [i.e., G‑d’s command] — and the actual fact — [i.e., the vessels and garments made by the Jews] — when was G‑d’s ultimate desire carried out and when was the promise “I will dwell among them”4 fulfilled? In the physical Sanctuary described in [in the parshiyos of] Vayakhel and Pekudei and not in the spiritual Sanctuary that Moshe “was shown on the mountain.”5

The lesson for us is that one should not be crestfallen, thinking: How is it possible for me to do G‑d’s will and have [my] intent [aligned with] the sublime intent when every one of us knows his own [humble] standing? [This is especially true since,] in general, we are found in the doubled and redoubled darkness of this bitter exile. Nevertheless, G‑d promises that if one will only be of a generous heart,6 i.e., he acts with Jewish and chassidishe warmth and feeling, this will bring about “I will dwell among them.” G‑d will help a person carry out [His will] and align himself with the sublime intent.7

..Enclosed is a receipt.

With regard to the question regarding the synagogue, I wrote the same idea to Mr. Levitansky.