Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4221 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

10 Nissan 5716

Brooklyn

I greet you and bless you,

I am responding to your letter of 28 Adar.

A) Regarding the crate that contained a Sefer Torah* (the recipient of this letter, not knowing what the crate contained, threw it into a vehicle, thereby causing the Sefer Torah* to fall): It is customary, generally, in such situations, to wrap it in a solid manner, which makes the Halachah* much less severe during transport.

In your case, there were indeed two successive wrappings, and surely even more than two containers. It is permitted to ship it (a Sefer Torah*) in this manner and therefore also to transport it. There is therefore no reason for doubt.

Nevertheless, to go beyond the letter of the law, it would be good for you to donate, from your own money, a mantle or a belt for the Sefer Torah*. Likewise, you should fast on a Monday, a Thursday, and a Monday, but only during the first half of the day, and you should give the monetary equivalent of these fasts to tzedakah*.

B) Regarding the bottle of wine from the wedding (about which it is uncertain whether it was touched by non-Jews): everything you mention is merely a doubt. Moreover, the rule that "the river passes between the two" (Tractate Avodah Zarah 6b) was not applied in this case — the recipient of this letter did not himself drink this wine; he distributed it to the wedding guests. Finally, the prohibition is only Rabbinic in origin (the Torah* prohibiting only the wine of idolaters).

Nevertheless, to better fulfill the mitzvah*, as I said above, you should give to tzedakah* the value of seventy-three meals. Obviously, you should not do so all at once. You may spread your donations until the next Rosh Hashanah*.

The names of the close ones you mention will be cited, at a propitious moment, at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us. Of course, yours will be mentioned as well.

With my blessing for a kosher* and joyous Pesach* and with greetings to your parents,