The letter is addressed to the distinguished Rabbi, R. Ephraim Eliezar HaKohen Yolles.

B”H, Tuesday, 18 Cheshvan, 5704

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your letter of Motzei Shabbos Parshas Vayeira:

I fulfilled your request to mention you in the inner chamber1 and to give your pan to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita. In light of the statement of our Sages (Mechilta, commenting on Shmos 19:8) who rule that even when the principal knows [that the agent] fulfilled the mission with which he was charged, [the agent] should inform him,2 I am writing to you concerning this.

It must be noted that in the translation of the two verses (Shmos 19:8-9), Targum Yerushalmi adds the term [meaning] “while praying.” It is possible to explain that the intent is to answer the question raised by the Mechilta: “Did Moshe have to respond...?” offering a different perspective than that of the opinion which states that [Moshe’s response] teaches us [the above concept].

In the situation at hand, it would appear that there is no difference of opinion between the two views because the person charging the agent will not know [that his request was fulfilled] until later.3

With the blessing, “Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,”

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee