Igrot Kodesh · Letter 459 — Explanation of the Previous Rebbe's GRAF Blessing

B"H, 7 Adar 5709

To Rav Yaakov Kats*, Chicago,

Salutations and blessings,

As requested by phone, I am enclosing a check for $5000 as a loan.

At the end of our conversation yesterday, the Previous Rebbe*[2] wished you to be a 'Graf*' (count, or noble): G-R-A-F = Gut (good), Reich (rich), Fromm (pious) in Yiddish. In Russia*, 'Graf' was a title of nobility — equivalent to 'Earl' in English. I was not sure you understood, as the Previous Rebbe was ill and was experiencing speech difficulties[2].

Here is an explanation of the order of the blessing:

(1) Good = tzedakah*, which prepares and introduces the blessing.

(2) Rich = as stated in Taanit* 9a, 'tithe so that you may be enriched' — both materially and in knowledge, for 'a rich person is one rich in knowledge' (Nedarim* 41a: 'one who has knowledge has everything'). This prepares for the blessing.

(3) Pious = wealth of knowledge enables proper meditation until one loves and fears Hashem (as in the Tanya*). A materially rich person can fulfill this desire — as the Rambam* writes in Laws of Opinions 1:5–6 regarding following Hashem's* ways of mercy.

With blessing,