This letter was sent to R. Levi Yitzchak Eisner.

B”H, 18 Kislev, 5711,
Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I gratefully received your letter and the accompanying check. In the interim, you have certainly received a receipt from the office.

As a veteran communal leader in matters relating to maamad,1it is certainly superfluous to elaborate on the concept of maamad to you. Nevertheless, since it is the day before Yud-Tes Kislev, I would like to emphasize the special connection maamad has to the month of Kislev in general and the day of Yud-Tes Kislev in particular.

You are certainly aware of the details regarding the arrest and liberation of the Alter Rebbe [on] Yud-Tes Kislev and the arrest and liberation of the Mitteler Rebbe [on] Yud Kislev.

In all the generations, the Rebbeim — [beginning] from the Baal Shem Tov (the founder of the general chassidic teachings) and the Alter Rebbe (the founder of Chabad chassidic teachings) until our age — did not consider the fact that they possessed exceedingly great souls and understood in the deepest manner the magnitude and the dearness of studying the Torah — both its revealed and hidden dimensions — and engrossing oneself in G‑dly matters. They, nevertheless, did not focus on themselves, and [instead] devoted themselves to the concerns of [the Jewish people as] a whole. Not only this, they extended themselves to the point of self-sacrifice to perform a favor even for a single individual. My revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, related that the Tzemach Tzedek said that all the self-sacrifice of his grandfather (our great Rebbe)2 is like nothing compared to the self-sacrifice involved in tearing oneself away from the deep meditative state of longing, [to the extent that] the soul expires in yearning for G‑d, as [indicated by the phrase:]3 “Besides You, I desire nothing,” and devoting oneself to performing a favor for a Jew.

All the Nesi’im of Chabad,from the Alter Rebbe to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, followed this approach. And this approach [directed] their methodology, not only with regard to the love for G‑d and the love for the Torah, but also with regard to the love for the Jewish people without any differentiation, whether one be a chassid or an ordinary Jew, a scholar or a simple Jew, an adult or a child.

As the situations demanded, part of this methodology was carried out in a revealed manner, and other parts of this methodology, for example, [were carried out via] charity to persons or institutions in certain instances where the matter should not have been publicized, and [other] similar activities were carried out furtively, and for the most part, financed by the personal resources of the Chabad Nesi’im.

All of these activities [continue and] have increased today. It is our hope that with the help of those who are bonded with my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, [and of his] chassidim and his students, it will be possible that they will continue to be established according to their degree of need which unfortunately is becoming greater. In particular, [this applies] to charity that is given furtively, which is taken partially from the maamad funds.

In the days before Yud-Tes Kislev and on Yud-Tes Kislev, which is, as my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, declared,4 “the Rosh HaShanah for Chassidus and the ways of Chassidus,” all of the Rebbeim, and particularly “the master of the celebration,” the Alter Rebbe, arouse mercy on behalf of all those who help by supporting the work in all of the matters which he, “the master of the celebration,” founded and which his heirs actually directed in generation after generation.

I conclude with a blessing: that your activities on behalf of maamad will draw down blessing and success in everything that you need. I also ask that you convey good wishes to all those who participate and assist you in your work.

With blessings for the holiday of our redemption and the deliverance of our souls,

Menachem Schneerson

Enclosed are booklets for Yud-Tes Kislev in Yiddish and English, as well as my communal letter for Yud-Tes Kislev.