This letter was addressed to R. Rafael Baruch Toledano, the Rabbi of Meknes, a city in Morocco where R. Michael Lipsker 1 had begun Lubavitch activities.

B”H, 24 Elul, 5710

With abundant greetings and blessings,

Your letter of the ninth of the month of mercy 2 was duly received. Thank G‑d for the good news that you have returned to a state of health. May G‑d continue and increase His [blessings] so that you be healthy and sound. For, as Rambam writes in Hilchos Deos, the beginning of ch. 4, “the health of the body is [one of] the paths of G‑d.” May you [continue to] uphold your Rabbinic position so that you will be able to lead your congregation to Torah, Divine service, and deeds of kindness until the coming of Yinon; 3 may it be speedily in our days.

It is my hope in G‑d that we will be able — i.e., your excellency and us here — to be occupied in the spreading of Torah with the fear of Heaven in your pure community. On the basis of our Sages’ statements: 4 “One who comes to purify is granted assistance,” and, “When one brings about a small amount of holiness from below, abundant holiness is granted from Above,” 5 I trust that the light of the Torah and the luminary of the Torah 6 will continue to proceed and shine forth until we all merit the fulfillment of the prophecy: 7 “And day will shine as night.”

I am enclosing a kuntreis published for Chai Elul. Certainly you will find desirable [points] in it.

I will conclude with wishes and blessings for a kesivah vachasimah tovah for a good and sweet year for you and all the members of your household. May the year that is approaching for us and the entire Jewish people be a year of redemption — the true and complete Redemption — led by Mashiach. The preparation for this is arousal to teshuvah and tzedakah, material tzedakah and spiritual tzedakah, as explained in the letter for the coming Rosh HaShanah 8 of which a copy is enclosed.

Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption, 9 immediately to a good and long life, and peace,

Menachem Schneerson