By the Grace of G‑d
1st Day of Chanukah, 5729
Brooklyn, N.Y.
[December 16, 1968]

Greeting and Blessing:

I duly received your correspondence, and you will no doubt forgive me for not acknowledging same promptly, due to the burden of duties, a delay to which you are no doubt already accustomed.

I want to particularly thank you for your good wishes in connection with the 40th anniversary1. As I have mentioned and written before on several occasions, based on G‑d's promise to Avrohom, “I will bless those who bless you,” it is in this spirit that I reciprocate all good wishes, and may G‑d bless you and yours with an added measure of blessings exceeding the original quantity. This includes, of course, also your wife, and that you should both have true Yiddish and Chasidish Nachas from your children and their offspring, as well as Nachas from each other.

In regard to your reference to your brother Moshe, I was especially pleased to see him at the Farbrengen on Yud-Tes Kislev, and I asked him to convey to you my personal regards, as well as some points of the discussion at the Farbrengen which he will retain in his memory. No doubt he fulfilled my request.

I was also gratified to note from your letter that there is a better bank available now to do business with, better than the previous bank and its famous manager2.

May G‑d grant that things brighten up for you and continue to become ever brighter, in accordance with the Mitzvoh and message of the Chanukah lights which we kindle in growing numbers from day to day.

Wishing you and your wife and all yours a happy and inspiring Chanukah,

With blessing,

M. Schneerson

P.S. I am sending this letter special delivery in the hope that it will still reach you during Chanukah.