This letter was addressed to R. Meir [Chayim] Chaiken.

B”H, 12 Adar, 5709

Greetings and blessings,

Your letter of the 24th of Shvat was received. Enclosed is a kuntreis for Purim that was just published which you will no doubt share with people at large. The letters at its conclusion are particularly pertinent for the members of the chassidic brotherhood and the yeshivah students who have been brought to a place where a great task has not yet been begun and it has been waiting for so long for so-and-so to come and perform it. Certainly, there is room for activity to fortify oneself 1 with regard to Torah study (establishing fixed times for the study of both the revealed realm of Torah law {nigleh} and its hidden mystic dimensions {nistar}), with regard to Divine service (making mature individuals aware of the concept of prayer, and in particular training those who are children — either chrono­logically or in knowledge — to pray and recite blessings) and with regard to deeds of kindness (particularly, [giving] tzedakah to worthy poor people, according to each one’s capacity).2

As is obvious, my [words are not directed] to you alone, but also to your father-in-law3 as well who, it appears, must be aroused, [in the spirit of] our Sages’ statement:4 “Skin (i.e., remove the leather garments that came as a result of the Sin of the Tree of Knowledge)5 a corpse (referring to those who are referred to as dead even during their lifetimes)6 in the market­place (to accomplish this, one must go out to a place of business, as stated in Torah Or, Parshas Vayeishev, et al.) and earn a wage (because the poor man — in knowledge — does more for the donor [than the donor does for the poor man]).7 Do not say: ‘I am a priest8 (and I do not have a connection to matters of this world, as Rambam states at the conclusion of Hilchos Shemittah VeYoval) and I am a great man.’” ([I.e.,] I possess the great lights of Tohu within the great vessels of Tikkun;see sec. 7 of the enclosed maamar.)

With greetings for a happy and high-spirited Purim; with greetings to all those who seek our welfare,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson