Igrot Kodesh · Letter 145 — Tzedakah for Torah Publishing — Spiritual Charity

By the grace of Hashem,

Wednesday, 20 Adar 5704,

To the honorable man, who seeks tzedakah* and good,

and fears Hashem, Mr. Aryeh Yaakov Lehman,

I greet you and bless you,

You will find enclosed a copy of the pamphlet of 18 Elul [1], which we have just published, thanks to our friend, the great scholar, Rav Moshe Pinchas Katz and his wife, of Newark. They transmitted to us the gift of fifty dollars that you kindly granted us, through their intermediary, to participate in the printing costs of this book.

In accordance with your request, which they transmitted to us, we have dedicated this book to the merit of your father, Rav Chaim, son of Rav Kalonymus, to whom Hashem will grant long life. You will see his name on the cover of the pamphlet.

Doing good for others is a great merit, especially when it involves printing an important book.

One of the most important mitzvos* is that of tzedakah*, which is not limited to material assistance, to offering food and clothing. It can also be moral. It then consists of providing a soul with the nourishment it needs, of not leaving it unclothed, that is to say, without Torah* and mitzvos*.

This is one of the highest and most fundamental forms that tzedakah* can take. The Gemara* says on this matter: "This brings him life in this world, that enables him to attain the World to Come."

One of the ways to morally assist one's fellow is to provide him with the means to learn of words that will encourage him, of profound explanations and teachings emanating from the great men of our people, in every generation and, for ours, from my father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita*.

May Hashem grant, through the merit of this great mitzvah*, that you have good news of your parents and of all your friends, and that you may, with the entire Jewish people, welcome our righteous Mashiach*, very soon and in our days.

With my blessing for an immediate teshuvah*, immediate redemption,

Rav Menachem Schneerson,

Director of the executive committee

Notes

[1] 5703, reproducing the words of the Previous Rebbe.

[2] See, on this matter, letters no. 140 and 141.