Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7095 — Tzedakah

By the grace of Hashem,

Eve of Rosh Chodesh* Kislev* 5720,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the distinguished Chassidim* who fear Hashem and

pray at the synagogue of the rite of the Arizal*,

I greet you and bless you,

We are on the eve of Rosh Chodesh* Kislev*, which is the month of redemption, miracles, and victory, as all Jews know, and I am going to visit the resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit protects us, as I do every eve of Rosh Chodesh*, particularly that of Kislev*. I was surprised and also pained by a rumor, which I wish to hope is unfounded, according to which you would wish to cease, Heaven forbid, reciting and studying the words of our masters and leaders, whose merit protects us — the teaching of Chabad* Chassidus* — as has been practiced for many years already, for several generations, to the point that the name of your synagogue is: "of the rite of the Ari*." As I said, I wish to be convinced that this is merely a rumor and that this positive custom will be maintained, as has been done until now. Furthermore, an addition will be introduced in this domain, in accordance with the teaching of our holy Torah* according to which one ascends in the domain of holiness, and the lesson delivered by the Chanukah* lights, emphasizing that one must always illuminate more.

It is certain that all who pray in the synagogue of the rite of the Ari* will lend their support in order to maintain this positive custom, which, in fact, is not merely a custom but an established practice of many years, to the point of having become a principle of the Torah*. Moreover, and this is equally essential, you know the request of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of his father, and of the masters of preceding generations, since the Alter Rebbe* — that of disseminating the wellsprings of Chassidus* in every place. And they themselves clearly emphasized that this concerns not only Chabad* Chassidim*, but ultimately the entire people of Israel. Now, if this was requested in the era of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, and even before that, how much more must this be so at every step in our era, that of the heel of Moshiach*.

I was even more astonished to learn that certain of the Chassidim* of Satmar are not satisfied with this study of the teaching of Chabad* or would even wish to obstruct it, whereas before this Sukkos*, I received the book Yoel Moshe, of the Rebbe of Satmar Shlita*, who cites and supports the words of the Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, and bases himself on them to develop his explanation. Can one believe that his Chassid* would act contrary to his position, and furthermore prevent others, publicly, from adopting it?

As I said before, I hope that the study of Chabad* Chassidus* will be maintained without any difficulty. I will therefore conclude here, greeting you, wishing you a true peace, as our masters rule in tractate Sanhedrin* 99b, in these terms: "Whoever devotes himself to the Torah* for its own sake establishes peace in the heavenly sanctuary and in the earthly sanctuary." This is explained in the Likkutei Torah* of the Alter Rebbe*, in the Chassidic* discourse entitled: "Enlist from among you," as well as in the discourse introduced by the same words by the Rebbe Rashab*, which I enclose herewith. I address you my blessing for a joyous and Chassidic* month. Through the study mentioned above, which is a means of disseminating the wellsprings to the outside — an explanation of the Baal Shem Tov* — we will soon merit the fulfillment of the response of the king Moshiach*: "the master shall come," "when your wellsprings spread to the outside." With my respects and my blessing to give good tidings of all this,