Igrot Kodesh · Letter 332 — Sdei Chemed Republication — Rebuilding Torah Heritage After the Shoah

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Adar Rishon* 5708,

To the distinguished benefactor, man who fears Hashem, cherishes

the Torah* and multiplies Tzedakah*, important communal leader,

Mr. Tzvi Eliezer, son of Avraham Avir HaLevi Cruishar,

I greet and bless you,

I take this opportunity to thank you sincerely, on behalf of the Merkaz L'Inyonei Chinuch*, for your efforts and your assistance in enabling the printing of the encyclopedic series entitled Sdei Chemed*, authored by Rabbi Chaim Chizkiyah Medini*(1).

Simultaneously we receive your contribution, the first installment for this undertaking, for which you will find a receipt enclosed.

My father-in-law, the Rebbe* Shlita, chose you to make this encyclopedia available to the greatest number, and you have thereby acquired an eternal merit. This important work sets forth the Halachah* that governs the conduct of a Jew individually and for an entire community, presenting up to the opinion of our most recent Sages.

This work appeared before the last war and was printed in Poland in 5699-5700(2). But it then disappeared together with the millions of victims murdered by criminals. It was therefore particularly important to publish it again and to produce this precious book.

Indeed, we are currently reading the Torah portions that speak of the construction of the Sanctuary, which was subsequently replaced by the Temple. The enemies of Israel destroyed our Temple, but they were able to reach only its wood and stones — that is, its most material aspects. They were unable, however, to touch its spirituality and its holiness.

The same is true of the millions of Jewish lives that were sacrificed to sanctify Hashem's Name and of the sacred books that disappeared. Only bodies or paper could be affected. By contrast, the souls and the spirit of these books are eternal.

Nevertheless the purpose of the soul cannot be conceived without the body, just as the body without a soul does not exist. It is therefore necessary to educate a new generation in the spirit and memory of our martyrs, to print and disseminate the spirit of these sacred books. Then once again the immutable spirituality will enter into physical bodies and garments.

It is for this reason that the merit you have acquired by enabling us to publish and disseminate this important encyclopedia is utterly beyond measure.

This also constitutes an immense merit for the souls of the martyrs, the parents of your wife, Mrs. Socha, Elazar son of Noteh and his wife Ita daughter of Michel, who gave their lives to sanctify Hashem's Name.

May the merit of this accomplishment protect you, materially and spiritually, as well as your wife. May your journey be fruitful and may the blessings that my father-in-law, the Rebbe* Shlita, has bestowed upon you be fulfilled.

Wishing you all good,

Rav Menachem Schneerson,

Director of the Executive Committee,

Notes

(1) Concretely, the publication of this book was delayed until the end of 5712. See in this regard letters 348 and 369.

(2) 1939-1940.