Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1294 — Tzedakah

B'ezras Hashem,

19 Kislev 5712,

Brooklyn,

To the Chassid* who fears Hashem and

faithfully fulfills his task,

Rav Yaakov HaKohen[1],

Greetings and blessings,

I duly received your letter of 17 Kislev, with the request for a brachah* for Mrs. ..., that shalom bayis* may reign in her home. When I am at the tziyun* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, I will mention her name for this purpose.

You tell me nothing about her, and I hope that her home is a Jewish one[2]. I would simply wish to emphasize to her the necessity of having the mezuzos* of her house checked as soon as possible, and of giving tzedakah* to the fund of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess*[3] before lighting the candles on the eve of Shabbos* and Yom Tov*.

The passage of time will be of great use to them, especially if they manage to understand that one must know, from time to time, how to make a concession. In this way, by losing a little, one can gain much. Through all of this, I have good hope that she will be able to send me good news — to tell me that the equilibrium of their marriage has improved.

I read with satisfaction in your letter that you are striving to maintain the Mishnah* shiur* at the Anshei Sholom shul*. But you also say that the members of your family are not satisfied with this, because it delays the hour of the meal.

In my opinion, you should find someone who can commit to giving this shiur*. Moreover, since the practice has been established in a shul* of paying the one who teaches, one should not stop doing so[4]. This is particularly important in America, where what one purchases acquires a particular importance.

You have surely received the kuntres*[5] published for Yud-Tes Kislev*, and my letter addressed to all that accompanied it[6]. I hope that you organized, on this day, a gathering — what my father-in-law, the Rebbe, terms a Chassidic farbrengen*.

May Hashem grant that on this Yud-Tes Kislev*, the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus*, the following brachah* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, be fulfilled in each of us:

"Have a Good Yom Tov. May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year, in the study of Chassidus* and in the practice of its ways."

With my blessing,

Notes

[1] Rav Y. Katz, of Chicago. See on him letters no. 822, 1425 and 1498.

[2] In which the mitzvos are actually observed.

[3] That of Kollel Chabad.

[4] Whereas Rav Katz was not paid for his teaching.

[5] Of the teachings of the previous Rebbe.

[6] See letter no. 1263.