This letter was addressed to R. Chanoch Hendel Havlin, one of the members of the Lubavitch community in Jerusalem.
B”H, 15 Tammuz, 5708
Greetings and blessings,
I acknowledge receipt of your letters from 5 Nissan and 17 Sivan. In the interim, you certainly received my letter of 14 Nissan with the kuntreis for the Pesach holiday. In response to [your letters]:
..The beginning of Shimon Glitzenstein’s article concerning the Mitteler Rebbe was printed in the Kislev, 5708, edition of Yahadus. This is unfortunate, for [it will cause] a reader to err regarding certain matters. Among them: [It appears] that the Alter Rebbe was concerned only with the ethical level of his chassidim, [while in truth,] at that time, he devoted a significant amount of his time, energy, and powers to benefit their economic situation. In addition, he himself traveled throughout the country to raise money for working in [agriculture] (as [reflected in] the well-known response of the Alter Rebbe1 to R. Baruch of Mezhibuzhand the ordinances [established] concerning overstepping [each one’s] territory). [The impression created is] that the advice for the Jews to involve themselves in working the land began from the suggestion of the Mitteler Rebbe2 that he quoted in that article, although the very suggestion of the Mitteler Rebbe mentions that there are [already] settlements of Jews in Shetepet. Moreover, directly after his marriage and throughout the time he served as Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe tried to spread [the importance of] working the land among those who heeded his voice (i.e., the settlements of White Russia; this is related at length in a booklet concerning the Alter Rebbe’s communal activities which is now being prepared for printing).
The order to draft [Jews] into the [Russian] army was given in the year of the Mitteler Rebbe’s passing, i.e., many years after the suggestion he made and not as it appears from a superficial perusal of the article.
c) Would you please give R. Pesach Tzvi Mendelson five pounds from the funds belonging to Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch that are in your possession.
d) Enclosed is a kuntreis and a letter for Yud-Beis Tammuz. The kuntreis is being sent by ordinary mail.
e) Would you please inform me of the particulars concerning my relatives, Pinchas Landau and the members of his household.
f) ) Would you please communicate a response to Rav Chayim Avraham Naeh concerning the question he asked via R. Telushkin: I cannot guarantee that his corrections3 will arrive before the completion of the Shulchan Aruch, because I do not know how long they will be in transit. Nevertheless, I don’t understand the question of responsibility [being raised] since ultimately, he desires to print them. If so, he must bring them to the printer. Thus the only [additional concern] is that he hurry with regard to this to the fullest degree.
If he sends his notes to me, preferably, [he should send] two copies. For the Shulchan Aruch is not being printed in this very place and it is proper that one copy remain in my possession and the second be sent to the printer....
To conclude with wishes for everlasting good in all matters and peace with regard to all particulars. Greetings to all members of our fellowship,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
Executive Director
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