This letter was addressed to R. Michael Lipsker, the Rebbe’s shaliach in Morocco.1

B”H, 5 Cheshvan, 5711,
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings and blessings,

In reply to your letters of Friday of the week when the passage: “And I will place you on high”2 is read, Thursday of the Ten Days of Teshuvah, and Thursday, the day following [Simchas Torah], which because of the preoccupations of the month of Tishrei, I did not have the opportunity of answering them until now: Even now, time is pressing and thus I will write in brief.

I read the pannim that you sent with the lists of the students at the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, on the day preceding Rosh HaShanah and in his private chamber, the place where [chassidim] enter for yechidus and to give [their] pannim during the days of Rosh HaShanah. Certainly the tzaddik of [our] generation, the Nasi, grants his blessings and G‑d will fulfill them in a complete way in material and spiritual matters.

I also remembered at the gravesite the three residents of the city of Midlet whom you singled out. Enclosed are letters [written] to them as you suggested; you will certainly notify me of the outcome of this....

With regard to what you write concerning the pressing financial situation: There were certain side factors involved [until the present]. Regardless, it is my hope that the situation will proceed, improve, and become more organized....

Certainly you received all of the kuntreisim, including the kuntreis for Shemini Atzeres and the accompanying letters. I would be interested to know if there was an opportune time to publicize at least the content of the talks in the above-mentioned kuntreisim in wider circles and different cities.

Thank you for sending the sefer which was given to you by the Rav of Midlet.3 Please remind him from time to time about the other seforim. Similarly, if there are other writers or descendants of the families of writers of holy seforim, it would be appropriate to motivate them to send their seforim as gifts to our library. It is understood that only if they desire..., we will send them seforim that we publish. You will certainly inform me which type of seforim it is proper to send to so-and-so and so-and-so in particular.

It is very good that you utilize all opportunities to explain a concept in Chassidus wherever possible. I am awaiting further information regarding this. Without a doubt, the blessings of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, will accompany you inthis work as well, enabling it to be very successful.

Without committing myself by vow, I will write to the Rav of Midlet in the coming days.3

With regard to the student, Mr. ...: It is advisable to draw him close in an appropriate manner. When the opportunity [presents itself], please inquire in my name if he received my letter and what has happened with regard to him establishing himself. As you requested, in the coming days I will write to his wife.

You will certainly inform [me] that the matter of your visa has been arranged. Certainly, through the contacts that you have already established there, it will be possible that everything be [arranged] in the most appropriate manner.

With regard to your statements that you feel alone and forlorn... and that great weakness overcomes you in all your work: Behold, the conclusion of your words shows the nature of the first ones; i.e., that [these feelings of despondency] are the counsel of the yetzer [hara] that endeavors to weaken every person in the fulfillment of his mission with whatever words appropriate to the nature of the shaliach. There is a well-known adage of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ:4 “Chassidus brought about [a situation in which] one is not alone. Wherever one is found, the Rebbeim are there.” This applies, in particular, to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, who himself writes with regard to his father, the Rebbe [Rashab], נ"ע,5 that “the shepherds of Israel will not abandon their flock.”6

As explained in [Tanya,] Iggeres HaKodesh, Epistle 27 and its explanation, [after a tzaddik’s] passing, the boundaries of a physical body are removed, and [the Rebbeim] are found together with all those connected to them and bonded with them wherever they are. In particular, this applies in the places where they were sent to fulfill a mission [from the Rebbeim], and more particularly, when the mission involves spreading the wellsprings of [the teachings of] the Baal Shem Tov outward. This serves as preparation and the preface for the coming of Mashiach and the Resurrection of the Dead when “those who lie in the dust will arise and sing praises,”7 with him8 among them. See the sichah of 13 Tammuz, 5709, that was published in the kuntreis for Yud-Beis Tammuz, 5710, from which you should be able to draw vitality, motivation, and strength for your work in your present place. From there you will see clearly that even from the perspective of mortal intellect, there is no place for the thought that you are alone and forlorn, Heaven forbid. And obviously, there is no basis for weakness in your work. Would it be that the members of the chassidic brotherhood, and particularly, the temimim,9carefully study the works of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, even his talks, and in particular those of the year 5710 and the preceding year.

Regarding what you write concerning esrogim:that in your present community, they use esrogim that grow there and that the Rav said that they have an established tradition that they are kosher and are not from a hybrid line.10 [You write that] you checked them and they did not have seeds.11 [In reply,] if the established tradition concerning them is a matter of certainty, they are valid for use in the mitzvah of the four species because the signs mentioned [with regard to an esrog] do not have the authority of Scriptural Law and the power of an established tradition outweighs them. [This applies, however,] only when it is clear that there is an established tradition concerning them. See the kuntreis from the Sukkos holiday12 [which states] that we have a tradition of seeking to use an esrog from Calabria13 and that the Alter Rebbe stated that there is a rationale that is known to him concerning this.14 Nevertheless, since we see in other places that other types of esrogim are also used and there is an established tradition concerning them for several generations, it is difficult for me to cast a doubt regarding the validity [of the esrogim used in your community].

It is understood that the above is not relevant to us as Chabad chassidim. For us, all that is relevant [with regard to practice] is the custom [communicated by] the Alter Rebbe: to recite a blessing on esrogim from Calabria.

With regard to the distinguishing signs, consult the sources mentioned in Shaar HaCollel, sec. 37. There he quotes the responsum of the Chasam Sofer15 which states that there is no need [to check] for the distinguishing signs of esrogim that come from Genoa.16 From this, it appears that it is not necessary to be that stringent with regard to the distinguishing signs.

I would be interested to know where the people of the country in which you are now located get lulavim and willows.

Awaiting good tidings, with greetings to all those who seek our welfare,

Menachem Schneerson

With regard to your question concerning the Grace After Meals: It is stated in the texts Likkutei Meir, Birkas Yaakov quoting Ikrei Hadas, sec. 9:36, and the Responsa Teshuras Shai, sec. 571, that a person who recited the blessing Al HaMichyeh instead of the Grace After Meals does not fulfill his obligation and must recite the Grace After Meals. I do not have these texts at hand, but it appears that the rationale is that [the Al HaMichyeh blessing] does not mention the covenant [of circumcision] and [the Giving of] the Torah. See the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, sec. 187.

Your letter of Monday, [Parshas] Noach, and a copy of the letter of Wednesday, [Parshas] Noach, was just received. I already wrote that the financial issues will be arranged and [a letter] is being written today to Paris17 regarding [the establishment] of a fixed schedule regarding this.... Would it be that we would have enough shluchim and enough financial resources to cover all the work necessary [to be performed] in Morocco and the neighboring lands.

With regard to the Gemaros and the kuntreisim that you requested: I forwarded [your request] to the office.

[Regarding the] evening classes given to those who attend the Schools of the Alliance,18 it is not worthwhile to expand the matter, because this would be a sign of kashrus, as it were, for those who desire to send their children to the Alliance Schools.

In general, our network of schools should be known by a general name, Oholei Yosef Yitzchak. This will subdivide into various categories: Talmud Torahs,19 Tiferes Bachurim,20 etc.