TAMMUZ 5776 18 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER לע"נ הרה"ת ר' שלום דובער ע"ה בן הרה"ת ר' יעקב יוסף ע"ה נלב"ע ח"י חשון, ה'תשע"ד ולע"נ מרת רבקה ע"ה בת הרה"ת ר' אברהם ישעי' ע"ה נלב"ע י"א סיון, ה'תשע"ד נדבת משפחתם שיחיו

Guidance for life Exploring THE REBBE’S IGROS KODESH

In preparation of this article we were greatly assisted by Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook; Rabbi Chaim Greenberg; and Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine and his sefer Avodas Hakodesh.

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 19 An Ancient Tradition answering questions and providing or the heads of the Joint; dissertations practical Torah guidance for their in Chassidus and nigleh; tikkunim for The totality of Torah scholarship disputes. Almost all of the chachmei various spiritual ailments, ranging from throughout the generations has Yisrael throughout the generations from missing a day of to reached us in two forms: sefarim and wrote both sefarim and teshuvos. mistakes in taharas hamishpacha; teshuvos. Sefarim, or chiddushim, are The Rosh has Teshuvos HaRosh, the and advice in all areas of life, from works that explain, clarify, or expound Rambam has Teshuvos HaRambam shidduchim to parnassa to learning. upon an original text. These include and Igros HaRambam, etc. In fact, Then there’s the diversity of the the Chumash, Mishnah, Gemara, many famous scholars have more people. The Rebbe was in touch with Rishonim, Shulchan Aruch, etc. teshuvos than sefarim. Others wrote people from across the spiritual and Teshuvos and igros—responsa—are teshuvos exclusively—the Geonim and socio-economic spectrum: Jewish answers to people’s questions. Rabbanan Sevoraii being the most leaders and secular intellectuals; Although their purpose is basically prominent examples. elderly Chassidim with deep inquiries the same—explanations on various The Rebbe’s Igros are a in Chassidus, and undisciplined areas of Torah—their focus is very continuation of this tradition, and, like youngsters with doubts in religion; different. In sefarim, the author begins the classic teshuvos, many of the letters famous personalities at the highest with a passage of Torah, a piece of are focussed on practical halacha and levels of public discourse in Eretz Gemara for example, and works minhagim. But it is not limited to that. Yisrael, and simple Russian olim who down from there; posing questions, Unlike the traditional teshuvos, the were having a hard time adjusting proposing answers, ironing out Rebbe’s Igros address every single area to the free world; bitter misnagdim contradictions, and expounding on of life. looking for trouble, and energetic the practical implications. It starts Open up a random volume and shluchim asking for guidance. One with the theoretical and (sometimes) you’ll find directives to askanim letter might be very practical, directing comes down to the practical. Whereas throughout the world, be they a Chossid whether or not to buy a with teshuvos, the starting point is a Chassidim on the vaad of Kfar house, while the next one is academic, question, often an actual scenario: Can this aguna get married? The author then works up from there, searching the entirety of his Torah knowledge for relevant information on the topic, often quoting from many different sources. It starts with the practical world and culls from the theoretical. For this reason, teshuvos are usually focussed on areas of scholarship that are most relevant to daily life. Unlike Tosfos, for example, a classic meforash, who will spend the same amount of time explaining a sugya about the abstract laws of metzora as a practical sugya about financial matters, in a sefer of teshuvos you will often find fifteen simanim dealing with the one subject, since it was especially relevant at the time. These dual streams of scholarship have their roots in the earliest beginnings of Torah. Moshe Rabbeinu spent some of his day relaying Hashem’s teachings to the Yidden, and the rest of the time he was Y MINKOWITZ

TAMMUZ 5776 20 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER giving short—and often difficult— letters should be consulted for lies; instead of helping you grapple ha’aros on a sefer; and the one after that context): your way through your problems on might be a sharp letter about Mihu How should one write a matzeiva? your own terms, the Rebbe shows you Yehudi or askanus haklal. (Similar to other matzeivos in the a higher way of living, and empowers One can see how the Rebbe fills immediate vicinity.)1 you to live up to it. The Rebbe never extremely different roles for the Can an upshernish be pushed off? (It allowed anyone to wallow in self- various people who were turning shouldn’t be.)2 pity and depression. He writes to to him. A tzadik giving brachos; a Should k’nasim be given to talmidim people with utter seriousness about loving father providing assurance and who are slacking off? (Depends on the responsibility and truth, reminding support—and sometimes also a sharp student.)3 them of the gravity and importance wake up call; a teacher elucidating the How can you prove that Torah is from and value of living. Every person has a deepest concepts of Torah; a world Sinai? (Don’t let “doubts” serve as an mission to fulfill, and every person has leader pushing for change on the excuse to follow your taavos. [The the power to succeed. global stage. More often than not, the Rebbe also answers the question in In response to a Chossid who was lines delineating these roles blurred. detail.])4 having problems in parnassa, the If you came to the Rebbe for practical Should the central Lubavitch Rebbe writes the following (among advice on some issue or another, you organization in Israel begin teaching other pieces of advice): would usually end up with the Rebbe’s limudei kodesh classes in secular ...In regards to his physical parnassa, encouragement to learn and spread schools? (No, it will be understood as surely Hashem will help. In general, Chassidus. a hechsher for them.)5 Chazal said that a person shouldn’t be Since Igros is printed by date, Should our school have a uniform? nispael [perturbed] from temporary not by topic—which was the Rebbe’s (No. It can only create issues.)6 hardship and lack, and how much more express directive (see below)— I am not seeing results from my work so is this true regarding Anash from the learning Igros is an experience like spreading Yiddishkeit. (These thoughts Soviet Union, who saw open miracles, שקר הכסף והבל הנכסים nothing else. A beautiful ride through are coming directly from the yetzer and also saw that false is money and naught ,גשמיים every aspect of the human condition hora. Remove them.)7 and through every type of Torah is physical possessions—surely they learning, with no indication of what’s Uplifting and shouldn’t be nispael at all...8 coming next. Empowering Instead of dealing with his every As with teshuvos, the uniqueness But perhaps the most fascinating worry, leading him out of his problems of Igros lies in its practicality. This aspect of Igros is the Rebbe’s personal from the ground up, the Rebbe has is where you can find the Rebbe’s advice. On the one hand, the Rebbe’s a much stronger message—you are perspective on actual, real-world advice definitely isn’t soft: the Rebbe beyond having to worry about this at scenarios, on very human issues is very clear on the fact that he has all! and doubts, often things that high expectations and won’t let you At the same time, the Rebbe shows aren’t addressed directly—or even convince yourself otherwise. People powerful empathy for the issues and indirectly—in and sichos. never got away with making excuses or challenges the person is dealing with. The following is a small sampling blaming others for their problems. But Two people could ask the exact same from the first few pages of a single that’s exactly where the power of Igros question, but they would receive very sefer of Igros, volume 15 (the original different answers. The Rebbe zeroed in on each person and used his life- The Rebbe was in touch with people from across story, his knowledge, his personal background in replying. And the the spiritual and socio-economic spectrum: elderly Rebbe’s deep concern and fatherly care pours forth from the pages. Chassidim with deep inquiries in Chassidus, and In the following letter, the Rebbe addresses a person who clearly went undisciplined youngsters with doubts in religion; through much hardship in his life. bitter misnagdim looking for trouble, and energetic ...We see manifestly that, to a great extent, the impression from events in shluchim asking for guidance. a person’s life depends on the person

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 21 himself—how hard he takes and Rebbe shares with him the healthy one achieved in the past hour. And registers them. Who is greater than approach to learning in general, in when you “delve into it and delve into the Rambam, whose life on the outside addition to pointing him to several it again,” automatically your mind and was full of pain, calamity, affliction sefarim. heart will become purified, and they and tragedy rachmana litzlan, much will become proper vessels to receive the more than is normal—yet his outlook Who is greater than the light of Chassidus; and the main thing— on life, as explained in his sefer Moreh [to receive] the m a’or of Chassidus Nevuchim, was very positive, very Rambam, whose life on [Hashem].10 optimistic. On the other hand, we see There’s no reason to evaluate what many people who in their external the outside was full of you’re doing over and over again. life seem to be successful, yet only on You must simply work hard and put rare occasions does one see any type of pain, calamity, affliction yourself into it. The Rebbe frees all satisfaction in them. and tragedy rachmana types of people, in all areas of life, This difference is found in people’s from being dragged down in over- natural disposition. Toras Hachassidus litzlan—yet his outlook evaluation and overabundance of [comes and] helps every single person caution, thus allowing them to throw in this regard…[emphasizing the on life was very positive, themselves into their avoda. importance of] ‘Serve Hashem with As you read through more and happiness’... very optimistic. more of Igros Kodesh, you start ...Obviously, the above is not chas learning how to think about types veshalom [meant] in a way of mussar, First the Rebbe begins with some of issues in life. A Chossid must be and more so, it is difficult to say this history: proud of his heritage, unrelenting in to someone knowing what they have There is a famouspossuk , “Hashem his focus on hafatzas hamaayanos, and been through. I am merely coming to made man straight, but they looked firm in his resolve.11 Parnassa must be show you several things in Torah that for many calculations.” For many worked for proactively,12 but money can lighten your burden and calm your generations, people learned Torah should never be a source of stress.13 spirit, at least a bit, until the promise is without much evaluation of how to set Challenges are not to be feared, but fulfilled for you...that Hashem, who is up their learning in a way that would expected in life, and overcome. Never good, will give good and shine His face to be the most successful and the most get involved in avoidable fights;14 quiet you in all that you need.9 correct according to the rules of chinuch, persistence is often more effective than recently people open war.15 Think less about yourself ,וחדשים מקרוב באו .The Rebbe isn’t telling this person etc that everything is okay. What the began analyzing and adopting various and your accomplishments and your Rebbe is saying is that it is within his curriculums and using different ploys. issues, and focus on the work you need power to be happy. This is found all But the results are the opposite of to accomplish. Approach your mission over Igros; the Rebbe uplifts people what one might hope for. Because in with ownership and responsibility,16 by sharing his deep belief in human the earlier generations, people had a but don’t get caught up in immediate potential and his fundamentally great thirst for learning Torah, without outcomes.17 Above all, put your trust positive and optimistic view of life. too much sophistication, with the result in Hashem, and you will find security, The Rebbe didn’t allow people to being that people knew tremendous contentment and success.18 get lost in endless inner arguments amounts of Torah, both in quantity and self-reflection. Sometimes it is and quality. Whereas today, after these The Writing Process important to figure out your issues curriculums and rules were set up, there In addition to offering a colorful in order to deal with it, but you must are less people learning, and they are less journey through a vast assortment never get stuck in the mud. The most motivated. of subjects seen through the Rebbe’s lofty philosophical thoughts, the Then the Rebbe applies it to him: lens, Igros Kodesh also gives a tour of Rebbe writes many times, cannot The same is true with learning a huge portion of the Rebbe’s life, and create even a single deed. Chassidus—the most correct derech reflects the challenges and triumphs In the following letter replying to is to not make too many calculations. facing the Jewish nation in general and someone who asked the Rebbe to give Rather, one should learn and learn Lubavitch in particular. him a seder in learning—something again, without constantly looking at you’ll again see all over Igros—the the clock and evaluating how much

TAMMUZ 5776 22 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER Overall, Igros can be divided into questions, giving advice and brachos, and got an official office, a secretary two general parts: 1) Before the nesius. and leading the Lubavitch movement would usually type them up. After Most of these letters are either Torah world-wide. the nesius, in 5710, as the volume of correspondence with different people Concurrent with the changes in letters increased tremendously, he (most famously the Rogatchover), or content, the way they were written relied mostly on two secretaries to askanus related to the Rebbe’s work changed as well. Until 5701 when he draft the responses: Rabbi Moshe Leib as chairman of Kehos, Merkos, and arrived in America, the Rebbe wrote Rodstein and Rabbi Nissan Mindel. Machne Yisrael. The Rebbe was also all the letters himself (including four But unlike ordinary public figures involved with many of the Frierdiker that we know of in French, when who receive voluminous amounts of Rebbe’s projects, acting as his personal he was coordinating the Frierdiker mail but have very little to do with secretary during various periods of Rebbe’s escape from the Nazis and most of their correspondence—they time. 2) After the nesius, when the had to get past the censors). Once rely almost completely on their staff to focus turned to answering people’s the Rebbe came to the United States open the letters and answer them—the Rebbe answered all the maill himself. The secretaries’ job was limited to the actual drafting of the letters. Occasionally, the Rebbe would write letters himself as well. Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel described the process: “The Rebbe always attended to his mail personally. He never authorized any of his aides to reply in his name. Because of the intimate and confidential nature of many of the letters addressed to him, the Rebbe would open all incoming mail himself, or have it opened in his presence. The replies, whether signed, mostly, by the Rebbe himself, or by his secretary, would likewise be dictated by himself and none other. Every outgoing letter, not omitting those on Secretariat stationary, would return to the Rebbe’s desk for a final perusal before mailing. “For all the rigorousness of the process, a great many letters succeeded in passing through the various stages in order to be mailed to their destinations. The amazing thing about it is that the Rebbe was able to dispose of this immense volume of correspondence in what was, comparatively speaking, a minimal amount of time. The process of reading and answering his personal mail took the Rebbe probably not more than five to six hours a week, about half the time of which was spent in two, sometimes three, sessions

29 ELUL 5735, JEM via LEVI FREIDIN 140968 5735, 29 ELUL a week, dictating to his personal

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 23 He would sweep through a one or two page letter with extraordinary speed, missing nothing on, or between, the lines.

secretary—although this managed to always painstakingly copy the edits he keep the secretary busy for a goodly had made to the original letter onto part of his working day! the archive copy. When Igros was later “How did the Rebbe manage to printed, the archive copy was therefore dispose of so many letters in such a able to be used as the final, completed short time? Well, for one thing, he version. was an exceptionally fast reader. He Most letters in Igros are signed would sweep through a one or two by the Rebbe, but many are signed page letter with extraordinary speed, by the secretary “in the name of the missing nothing on, or between, Rebbe Shlit”a.” Addressing someone the lines. Then, putting that letter who felt hurt when he received a

down and taking another one up, letter signed by a secretary, the Rebbe JEM 112663 REB MOSHE LEIB RODSTEIN. the Rebbe simultaneously dictated once explained: “Obviously I read all his response to the first letter point the letters that are sent to me and by point seriatim, or in order of also dictate the reply [emphasis in in writing which kloli-proti should be 20 importance, as he determined. Thus, original]. Regarding the signature: used, and in which language. while the secretary was racing against when the content of a letter requires The Rebbe also sent michtovim time, taking notes in his original this, meaning it pertains to bakashos klolim, addressed to certain segments steno “code,” (in Hebrew characters nafshiyos or special content in nigleh of the community, like Nshei Ubnos and words—because they can more or Chassidus—that is when I sign. Yisrael or Anash, or, more often, to all easily be abbreviated and/or cast into Whereas the letter to you, which was Yidden across the globe. These letters, acronyms and other time-and-space mostly to acknowledge receipt of your which are world famous for their saving expedients), the Rebbe was letter…”19 precise style and profound message, already poised to reply to the next As time went on, the amount of is beyond the scope of this article and letter.” people asking for the Rebbe’s advice will be addressed on another occasion Rabbi Moshe Leib Rodstein wrote and brachos increased tremendously, iy”H. most of the Hebrew and Yiddish eventually reaching sacks of mail a In 5711, the Rebbe began sending a letters, while Rabbi Nissan Mindel day. In 5709, shortly before the nesius, standard letter for simchos and special generally wrote in English or Russian, the Rebbe began writing letters which occasions—births, upshernish, bar and in addition to the more sophisticated were kloli-proti (general-personal), a bas mitzvahs, weddings, or birthdays— Hebrew and Yiddish ones. The generic letter related to the parshah of each personally signed. All the generic secretary would draft the letter using the week or the time of year. Several and standard letters were typed up by a kopir; thin, onion-like paper, so that copies would be made, all addressed to Rabbi Shalom Mendel Simpson, who .Mr. [Blank]. When sending the also kept the secretariat archive ,מוהר"י two copies were made of each letter, in addition to the original (for a total of letter to someone, the Rebbe would Rabbi Nissan Mindel wrote: 3). One copy stayed with the secretary, fill in the person’s name, covering “I was so bold as to suggest to and two were sent to the Rebbe: the over the yud, often adding several him that, in the case of certain original letter, which was to be sent lines at the bottom, addressed to the outgoing mail, there might be a way to the person, and the second copy, specific person. This kloli-proti version to economize on the time spent at this which was for the archives. The Rebbe be used for a few days, after which a task. I referred, by way of example, would check over the letter, editing new version was drawn up to be used to such standard, or form letters, as it as necessary. If there were many for the next while. Later on, after the Rosh Hashanah greetings, responses edits, the letter was retyped, but if the letters started being drafted by the to request for the Rebbe’s blessings on editing was minimal it was sent as is. secretariat, the Rebbe would indicate happy family events, such as a Bar/ Fascinatingly, the Rebbe would almost Bat Mitzva, a marriage, birthdays,

TAMMUZ 5776 24 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 13 ADAR 5731, JEM 287144 5731, 13 ADAR

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 25 A MICHTAV KLOLI-PROTI.

and so on, which when taken all together, though this was not one of my tasks, could easily number several thousand over the course of the year. Now, if the Rebbe would authorize the ‘signing’ of such letters by means of a rubber stamp—a universally accepted practice—it would certainly save a good deal of his precious time. “With polite acknowledgement of his secretary’s thoughtfulness, the Rebbe nonetheless rejected the idea out of hand, adding a reason, which, presumably, should have occurred to me in the first place. Indeed, I should have known that anything that smacked of “subterfuge” would be repugnant to the Rebbe. That went without saying. The Rebbe’s reason was simple: ‘How can I send prayerful wishes to a person in such an artificial manner, and how would that person feel if he or she received good wishes from his Rebbe in a letter that was signed, mechanically, with a rubber stamps?’ So that was the end of that.” In the first years of the nesius, the Rebbe would sometimes personally give out letters for birthdays for bochurim when he came out to mincha. In 5728, Rabbi Moshe Leib Rodstein passed away, leaving Rabbi Nissan Mindel the only secretary drafting letters. The Rebbe began writing many more letters himself— these were typed by Rabbi Simpson— but the bulk of correspondence slowly YOSSI MELAMED 139736 MELAMED JEM via YOSSI 5736, 29 ELUL

TAMMUZ 5776 26 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER shifted to maanos; instead of writing beginning long before the nesius. since the letters were very deep—the up full letters in response to people’s From as early as 5693 (a few years topics included practical Kabbalah, questions, the Rebbe would write a after the Rebbe’s marriage), and tzirufei sheimos, and the like—their very brief, answer on the letter itself, possibly even earlier, the Rebbe would preparation for print had to be given sometimes answering with a simple be sent a copy of all the Frierdiker to someone “who is fit for this in his underline or arrow. The Rebbe would Rebbe’s letters which were ‘tochni’, righteousness, fear [of Hashem], and then give the letter to the mazkir, non-technical. The Rebbe catalogued prodigious knowledge in Torah.” The who would transmit the answer to all the letters and added an index Frierdiker Rebbe chose the Rebbe as the person, either orally or in writing with a short description of each one. the person fitting the description.23 (the Rebbe’s ksav yad kodesh was never From this archive, the Rebbe chose In 5740, the Rebbe instructed to be given out).21 Due to the private letters for printing in , Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine to begin nature of the correspondence, the Kovetz Lubavitch, and various other printing the Igros of the Alter Rebbe, Rebbe would sometimes tear off most kuntreisim, adding marei mekomos, a project which ultimately grew to of the letter before giving it to the ha’aros, and the like. In addition, the include all the Rabbeim. The Rebbe mazkir, leaving only the name of the Rebbe published a kovetz michtovim was intimately involved at every stage person and the maane itself. Similar to (a collection of letters) about the of the process—in one maane, for the kloli-proti letters, there were also importance of saying Tehillim, printed example, the Rebbe instructed him maanos kloli-proti related to the time in the back of the Tehillim Yosef to ask one of the librarians to find a of year. Yitzchak. booklet (bichel) of letters from the The Rebbe also worked on the earlier Rabbeim “which was in the Bringing the Igros of some of the other Rabbeim. shaffe of my father-in-law the Rebbe.” Letters to Print When the Frierdiker Rebbe decided When Rabbi Levine gave the Rebbe a Printing22 the letters of the to print in Hatomim the letters of the copy of the kisvei yad which would be Rabbeim, and especially the Frierdiker Tov, Maggid (and others printed in the sefer, the Rebbe wrote to Rebbe, was something the Rebbe was of that era), which were found in the him that “in general, the more [kisvei involved in throughout the years, “Archive of Kherson,” he wrote that yad] the better.” One major question was whether to print the Igros by topic or by date. When he was preparing the first volumes of letters, Rabbi Levine presented various reasons for each option and asked the Rebbe what to do. The Rebbe instructed him to do it by date. This question came up again later as well—by the Frierdiker Rebbe’s Igros, and again by the Rebbe’s Igros, especially since the Rebbe’s Igros had always been printed by topic in the back of Lekkutei Sichos—and the Rebbe always answered that it should be published by date. What makes this especially noteworthy is that this goes back to before the nesius, when the Rebbe was working on preparing the Frierdiker Rebbe’s Igros to print “To Hora[v]N[issan]”M[indel] with his guidance. In a long letter Fix and stylize it in order to make it the standard version for bar to the Rebbe24, the Frierdiker Rebbe mitzva. explains at length why “in my personal [Create] a second version for a letter before the bar mitzva. opinion” printing letters in booklets

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 27 by topic is “counterproductive,” listing publications, and they were a precious are fit for print]—then I should show three reasons: treasure passed hand to hand. them to him. I gathered a folder of “Many people do not want to After the first few volumes of letters from 5718—thirty or forty even know about Chassidus...If such Lekkutei Sichos were published in letters—and went in to the Rebbe and a person sees on the cover of the sefarim, in the mid 5720s, selections gave it to him. booklet that it explains the idea of of letters were printed in the back, “The Rebbe took the folder, Toras Chassidus Chabad, he will put categorized by parshah and theme— looked through it, and asked, ‘Why it aside, since he doesn’t want to be a Bereishis would have philosophical from 5718?’ I replied that this what Chossid in general, and especially not letters about creation, and concepts I happened to pick up. The Rebbe a Chabad Chossid….Whereas, when of emunah, Lech Lecha about bris looked through it some more, and there are many different topics...he will mila, etc. In the beginning, none of asked, “Are there many more such end up reading things that he wouldn’t these letters came from the mazkirus letters?” I answered that there are have been interested in reading archive; rather they were gathered probably several hundred more. [I otherwise.” by the Vaad L’hafotzas Sichos from never imagined that there would be Second of all, “a booklet that collectors and private people who thousands of letters printed.] only covers one topic is heavy on the volunteered to give their personal “‘You should see to it,’ the Rebbe average reader. The same way that it letters for publication. said, ‘to gather and take out all the is a positive for an intellectual person, However, it came a point when it letters that are in the file—if you need it is a negative for a regular person... was becoming increasingly difficult to to, you should even hire people to help When there are different topics...a find new letters from private people, you—you should gather all the letters person has different things to read. so the Vaad L’hafotzas Sichos asked and see that they are published; and do “There’s a third point here: beauty Rabbi Shalom Mendel Simpson, who so as soon as possible.” comes from mixing different colors. was in charge of the Rebbe’s archive, Subsequently, the Rebbe sent out Certain topics are lighter, others are to provide for them letters for the the letters for print. But instead of heavier, and it is better when they are upcoming sefer of Lekkutei Sichos sending them to the Vaad L’hafotzas mixed together.” (vol. 25). Hasichos, as they had expected, the Rabbi Simpson relates: Rebbe sent them to Rabbi Levine, Printing the “I told them that I am not in charge together with a lengthy maane: Rebbe’s Letters of the letters—the Rebbe is the baal To Rabbi Shalom Dovber sheyichye In the early years of the nesius, the habos—and that without the Rebbe’s Levine Rebbe’s Igros weren’t officially printed directive I would never give out a It would be good to figure out, and as anywhere, aside for the Teshuvos single letter. A few months later, I soon as possible Ubi’urim section in Kovetz Lubavitch, wrote to the Rebbe [asking if I should 1. What is worthwhile to print and others scattered in various do it]. The Rebbe answered that if from the enclosed there are indeed such letters [which 2. To edit them and, primarily, to add sources, etc. 3. To publish it in actuality Rabbi Levine—who, up until that The original Ksav Yad the Rebbe point, hadn’t even considered printing sent for Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine, the Rebbe’s letters as a set of Igros, initiating the publishing of the since they had always been printed Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh. in Lekkutei Sichos—had no idea .who had prepared the letters or why להר"ר שדב שי' לוין When he found out that it had been כדאי לברר ובהקדם האפשרי collected at the behest of the Vaad 1( מה כדאי להו"ל מהמצו"ב ] =להוציא לאור L’hafotzas Sichos, he asked the Rebbe מהמצורף בזה[ for clarity: were these meant to be 2( להגי' עוד והעיקר להוסיף מ"מ ] =מראה ,printed as a new set of Igros Kodesh מקומות[ וכו' or as part of Lekkutei Sichos? The 3( להו"ל בפו"מ ] =להוציא לאור בפועל Rebbe underlined the first option, and ממש[

TAMMUZ 5776 28 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER A Mysterious Name

Rabbi Levine relates:25 Then she tells me, “The Rebbe asked if you can please “Someone came into the library and brought a show him the letter.” copy of the original letter that the Rebbe wrote to the So that’s what I did. I wrote in to the Rebbe, asking Rogatchover Gaon, which came from his archive. It him if he wrote this name just to avoid Russian censors. was written in 1925 [5685], when the Rebbe still lived (If they would see a letter sent from a Schneerson in Dnepropetrovsk/Yekatrinoslav. We saw right away they would stop it, so instead he signed “Gurary”. In that it was the Rebbe’s handwriting. But at the end of Dnepropetrovsk at the time, there lived a Lubavitcher the letter—in which the Rebbe asks some questions and Chossid named Mordechai Gurary.) I asked if that was explains his opinion about some subject in halacha—he the reason, or there was another reason. The Rebbe signs at the end: ‘M. Gurary.’ confirmed that it was because of the Russian censors. I didn’t know why he used the Gurary name; I Since the Rebbe already told me to show him the thought to myself that maybe he used the name for letter, I garnered the courage to ask him: “If the Rebbe other things as well. Although the letter was written wrote to the Rogatchover, the Rogatchover probably several years before the Rebbe’s chasunah, I thought that answered the Rebbe. Does the Rebbe have the letters the maybe the Rebbetzin would know. Rogatchover sent, or other letters that the Rebbe wrote So I called her up, told her the story of the letter, and to the Rogatchover, that I could incorporate?” asked for her thoughts. The Rebbe replied: “Lichapes b’ha’arkiyon—Search the “I never heard, so I don’t know,” she told me. “But I archives.” I didn’t really know what it meant: If he meant can ask the Rebbe. Wait a bit, I’ll ask him, and I’ll call the library archives, obviously I had already checked. If you back.” he meant the archive in his house, why would he tell me I was shocked. “I didn’t mean you should call to look there? the Rebbe and ask him,” I said. “I just asked if you Probably it meant that it was in the house, but remember that he used the name, that’s it…” he didn’t have the time to look for it. He was saying: “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter...” she answered. “When I have time, I will look for it.” Fifteen minutes later she called me back and said, It wasn’t until after Gimmel Tammuz that an “I called the Rebbe.” He was in his room at 770 at the additional letter was found, and then printed in the time and she was at home—she had called him at 770 Rebbe’s Reshimos. just to tell him what I asked! I was

shocked! I couldn’t believe it. LIBRARY OF CHASIDEI AGUDAS OF LIBRARY

THE REBBE’S LETTER TO THE ROGATCHOVER GAON SIGNED ‘M. GURARY’.

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 29 “Nu,” the Rebbe answered, “talmidei hayeshiva—that’s for the sake of expedienty, he should try finding someone to help him out, not news. But what’s going on with the yungelait? but on condition that “it shouldn’t be someone who ‘reveals secrets.’”

Are They Learning the Letters? In the middle of 5749, Rabbi Simpson brought the Rebbe a big package of letters for printing in the upcoming volume of Igros, volume 10. Suddenly, the Rebbe asked him, “Vos tut zich? Der oilam tut in der briv? Mi’lernt di briv? [What’s going on? Are people involved in the letters? Are they learning the letters?].” Trying to be melamed zechus on the Chassidim, Rabbi Simpson said that

TISHREI 5741, JEM via LEVI FREIDIN 190849 TISHREI 5741, he had heard that it is learned in the RABBI SHALOM BER LEVINE. Morristown yeshiva. “Nu,” the Rebbe answered, added that he should go back to Rabbi The Rebbe would review each sefer “talmidei hayeshiva—that’s not news. Simpson for many more letters. before it was printed in order to give But what’s going on with the yungelait? It is important to realize just how his approval—and constantly urged Until this very day, I have not received rare this was for the the Rebbe to him to publish it as quickly as possible. a single letter from anyone asking a instruct on his own accord, b’isarusa The Rebbe also encouraged Rabbi question, or writing a ha’ara about d’liaila, that a sefer of his own Torah Levine to write introductions to the the Igros kodesh.” And the Rebbe should be printed. Often, Chassidim new sefarim of Igros, occasionally then waved his hand signifying his had to insist before the Rebbe agreed editing them as well. disapproval.26 to edit his maamarim and sichos, or A little while later, volume 10 of print his own sefarim; even Lekkutei Keeping it Quiet Igros was printed, and Rabbi Simpson Sichos took years to become a set-in- Throughout the publishing of suggested that the bochurim do stone project, and for some time it was Igros, the Rebbe put an emphasis on something to mark the event. Led by on and off. Yet here the Rebbe initiated discretion, in two specific areas: The Rabbi Chaim Greenberg, the bochurim the entire project. first was that private letters should arranged an event on a grand scale to In one of the maanos, the never be published. In fact, when the celebrate the occasion. They invited Rebbe wrote that the new sefer was first two volumes of the Frierdiker rebbes, rabbonim, and roshei yeshivos “connected to the preparations for Rebbe’s Igros were almost ready for from all over New York to join, even Pesach—[and should be done with] print, the Rebbe wrote a long maane: publishing a kovetz with articles about chipazon (in a hurry)...” Rabbi Levine “An observation was made by some, the Igros from various public figures understood that the Rebbe was hinting that included [in the sefer] are private called Lichvoda Shel Torah. Speakers that it should be ready for Yud-Aleph letters that are utterly unfit for print. It included Rabbi Yosef Wineberg; Nissan—less than a month away—and would be good to go over them again, Rabbi ; Rabbi Moshe he threw himself into the project. On and if he finds any letters like that, he David Steinwurtzel—rosh yeshiva 25 Adar—only nine days later!—he should remove them…” of the Bobover yeshiva in New York; managed to come up with the first The second requirement was that Rabbi Simcha Elberg, chairman of manuscript for editing, and it was those working on the letters should Agudas Harabbonim; Rabbi Boruch indeed printed by Yud-Aleph Nissan. be discrete. When the Rebbe told Laizerowski, dayan of the Bais Din From that point on, Rabbi Levine Rabbi Levine to begin publishing the in Philadelphia; and others. The worked on the Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh. Frierdiker Rebbe’s Igros, he added that event was successful beyond their

TAMMUZ 5776 30 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER estimations; 650 sefarim of Igros were sold on the spot. Following the event, Rabbi Greenberg wrote a du”ch to the Rebbe describing their success, together with an album of pictures and a write up of the speeches. The Rebbe wrote a powerful maane under Rabbi Greenberg’s signed name: כן יבשר טוב לעת"ל ובהוספה והזמ"ג דמרבים בשמחה אזכיעה"צ So should he bring good tidings in the future And with an increase And the time is fitting [Adar] when we increase in happiness Azkir al hatziyun

The of Our Generation In order to gain some possible understanding as to why the Rebbe decided—b’isarusa d’liaila—to begin publishing Igros Kodesh, we bring excerpts from the introduction to Igros Kodesh volume 12: From when the Alter Rebbe accepted upon himself the nesius of Chassidus Chabad, the idea of yechidus began. The Chossid would enter to the Rebbe in order to receive his guidance and directives on how to run all aspects of his life. As the years passed, the amount of Chassidim grew and grew, until it became impossible for every Chossid to have his own yechidus. That is when the “rulings of Liozna” were established, which limited travel to the Alter Rebbe and so forth. A few years later, the Tanya was printed. In the hakdama the Alter Rebbe writes that the sefer includes “answers to many questions that all Anash in our country have

14 TISHREI 5740, JEM via LEVI FREIDIN 192320 14 TISHREI 5740, constantly asked, seeking advice... RABBI HODAKOV (SEATED) AND RABBI NISSAN MINDEL AT WORK IN THE MAZKIRUS OFFICE.

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 31 The responsibility of the rav is to counsel his students according to the directives, advice, and guidance of the Rebbe which are found in Igros Kodesh.

[This is necessary] because time no longer permits replying to everyone individually and in detail on his particular problem. Furthermore, forgetfulness is common. I have, therefore, recorded all the replies to all the questions...to serve as a visual reminder for each and every person, so that he will no longer press for admission to yechidus with me. For in these [responsa] he will find peace for his soul, and true counsel on every matter that he finds difficult in avodas Hashem. .” The same can be said, possibly, about the publishing of the Rebbe’s letters. Over the course of decades, the Rebbe received many thousands of people into yechidus, giving them advice and guidance in avodas Hashem, activism, personal issues, etc. The Rebbe also invested much effort in writing letters to people at all corners of the earth. Like yechidus, these letters cover all areas of life; if you look in Igros, you will find a wealth of horaos and instructions in halacha, avodas Hashem, activism, personal life, etc. In the past few years, as the number of Chassidim has grown and grown, personal yechidus has ceased; detailed letters are also not as common as previous years. The Rebbe spoke more than once that, in this time, one shouldn’t ask many detailed questions, and instead he should ask his ‘asei l e c h a r a v,’ etc. 29 ELUL 5743, JEM via LEVI FREIDIN 209341 5743, 29 ELUL

TAMMUZ 5776 32 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER THE LARGE EVENT CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF THE TENTH VOLUME OF THE REBBE’S IGROS KODESH.

It is specifically now that we —your asei lecha rav. From this 6. Ibid 27 have merited that the Igros Kodesh it is understood that the responsibility 7. Ibid 30 have been published. Anyone who of the rav is to counsel his students 8. Vol. 9 p. 338 is interested in knowing the Rebbe’s according to the directives, advice, and 9. Vol. 4 p. 261 opinion on almost any topic in all guidance of the Rebbe which are found 10. Vol. 5 p. 89 areas of life, can find it in Igros. When in Igros Kodesh. 11. See e.g. vol. 18 p. 66. you think about this, how this set Until we merit the conclusion 12. See e.g. vol. 16 p. 88 of sefarim can teach you the Rebbe’s of the Alter Rebbe’s words in his 13. See e.g. Vol. 9 p. 338 opinion on almost any issue that will hakdama: May the Giver of Life to the 14. See e.g. vol. 6 p. 250 ever arise, you realize how important living make us worthy to live to see the 15. See e.g. vol. 17 p. 340 it is to learn these sefarim and read days when “no longer shall one man 16. See e.g. vol 10 p. 391 them at every opportunity. This is instruct the other ... for all shall know 17. See e.g. vol. 14 p. 397 not only in regards to oneself, but in Me...” “for the world shall be full of the 18. See e.g. vol. 6 p. 147; vol. 18 p. 408 teaching others as well, as the Alter knowledge of Hasehm...” 19. 28 Tammuz, 5715 Rebbe concludes his hakdama: “As The day when the rav and the 20. See introduction to Igros Kodesh vol. 3 for him whose mind falls short in talmid will learn together from 21. See hakdama to Avodas Hakodesh by Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine understanding the advice given in the Torah and mouth of Moshiach 22. For this section, see Avodas Hakodesh of these kuntreisim, let him discuss his Tzidkeinu. Rabbi Shalom Ber Levine part 3. problem with the foremost scholars of 23. See Yimei Melech p. 405; 429. 1. Igros vol. 11 p. 3 his town, and they will elucidate it for 24. Igros of the Frierdiker Rebbe vol. 15 p. 281. 2. Ibid 5 him.” 25. Living Torah Program 276, “Letters from 3. Ibid 6 This fits with the Rebbe’s Youth”. 4. Ibid 7-9 abovementioned hora’a, that every 26. Related by Rabbi Simpson at the 5. Ibid 26 question should be taken to a of Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5750.

TAMMUZ 5776 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 33