This letter was addressed to R. Efraim Eliezer HaKohen Yolles, one of the leading Rabbis in Philadelphia.

ב"ה,
1 Menachem Av, 5711,
Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessings,

I received your letter of 28 Tammuz a brief time before I went to the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe זצוקללה"ה, נבג"ם, זי"ע.1 I mentioned you and all the members of your household for everything they need as you requested in your letter. The “tzaddik who has departed [and who] is to be found in all the worlds more than during his lifetime”2 will certainly arouse abundant mercies for success in material and spiritual matters.

As per your request, the donation that you sent in connection with your revered father’s yahrzeit was conveyed [to the intended recipients]. Enclosed is the receipt.

In the Kuntreis Eichah that was recently published — most, indeed almost all, of the material is published now for the first time from manuscripts — there is a description on p. 44 of the equivalence between Yom Kippur and Tishah BeAv, [including the concept that] on both days, we do not wear leather shoes. As stated there, [in these two cases,] the motivating rationales [for this practice] are opposite. It is, nevertheless, well known that the most profound heights are connected with the most profound depths. From this, it is understood that even on Tishah BeAv — may it be transformed into a day of gladness and rejoicing in our times — the fact that we are [required to] remove our shoes indicates that one is [essentially] above the concept of shoes.3 I see that this year, the yahrzeit of your father is commemorated on a date on which it is forbidden to wear shoes.4 Certainly, everything is controlled by Divine provi­dence, particularly those matters concerning people who are connected to the Torah and its mitzvos. As is well known, a yahrzeit is a day of ascent [for the soul]. [The concept of spiri­tual ascent] is also the reason for the prohibition against wearing shoes on Yom Kippur and thus, [in an inner sense,] this applies also on Tishah BeAv. This year this concept applies on 10 Av.

May it be G‑d’s will that we soon see with eyes of flesh the fulfillment of the prophecy5 “I will transform your mourning into joy.” [At that time,] all the concepts mentioned in the scroll of Eichah will be explained as levels of ascent as explained in the above-mentioned Kuntreis Eichah.

With blessing,