The name of the recipient of this letter was not released.

B”H, 9 Elul, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

In reply to your letter of 24 Menachem Av and the enclosed pan:1As per your request, I will read the pan at the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ.

I am amazed that you have not yet answered me regarding my question whether you have fixed times for the study of Torah in general, and in particular, for the study of the teachings of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ. There is a well-known adage of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ: There are tzorus2chassidim, individuals who recall the Rebbe and Chassidus when something undesirable occurs to them; then they write a pidyon. But when things work out, [they return to the norm:] “...every man under his vine and under his fig tree.”3

Since, due to circumstances that transcend nature, you merited to see the face of holiness, i.e., my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, I do not understand why it is necessary to inspire you to study his teachings, nor why, even after [the inspiration has been given, you are still contemplating whether to accept the suggestion or whether you have other more important matters [to tend to].

It is self-understood that my intent is not to evoke anything that is the opposite of the quality of mercy, Heaven forbid. I am simply amazed with compounded amazement about those who have the choice whether to be Polish chassidim,4 tzorus chassidim, or womanlike chassidim — or to try, at least somewhat, to be the type of chassid that the Nesi’im of the teachings of Chabad demanded of us. We have tasted the flavor of the light that is good. And, nevertheless, we first become family men. Afterwards, we become occupied [with worldly concerns] and then we recite a line of Chassidus and [think that] it is enough and that nothing more should be demanded of us.

You will certainly inform me of good tidings. There is a well-known statement of our Sages in tractate Kiddushin5 that the true conception of good is not merely being good to the created beings, but also being good to G‑d. Now a person himself is also in the category of created beings. And [being good to oneself means studying Torah, for] there is no concept of good other than the Torah6 and its mitzvos, as they have been explained through the luminary of the Torah,7 which causes a person to revert to good, regardless of the situation in which he is in.

Concluding with blessings for a kesivah vachasimah tovah,

Menachem Schneerson

How are [the members of] your household faring?