Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9049

By the grace of Hashem,

28 Mar Cheshvan 5726,

Brooklyn, New York,

To Mr. Yossef Dekel[1],

I greet you and bless you,

I have duly received your letter of 6 Cheshvan[2], and you have surely received, already some time ago, my wishes for the new year. Jewish custom has it that one answers a question with a question, and so I shall immediately pose mine, which is as follows. I have not received, for quite a long time now, any publications from the institutions you direct. Yet you have surely published several books and several pamphlets during the months that have just passed. You know that I take an interest in various fields and in everything that is published in general, and in the Holy Tongue* in particular. In any event, these works are placed in the library, where they are useful from various perspectives[3].

On this subject, I have learned that a Siddur*, a Machzor*, a Haggadah*, or all of these together, has been published according to a unified rite for the various communities of the Holy Land*, may it be restored and rebuilt. You are aware of the negative position I have adopted on this matter. Indeed, prayer is the service of Hashem[4] of the heart[5], and there is therefore no cause to intervene in this regard[6]. On the contrary, one must maintain the custom of one's forebears[7]. Nonetheless, if these works have been published, I would be grateful if you would include them in the next shipment. With my respects, my blessing, and thanking you in advance for all of this,

ב״ה ,י״ב כסלו ,ה׳תשכ״ח
ברוקליו ,נ.י.
הוו״ח אי״א נו״נ מו״ה אברהם גד שי׳
שלום וברכה!
הריני מאשר את קבלת מכתבו מכ״ג חשון ,וכן גם את ההתכתבות
הקודמת .הנני מודה לו לבבית על מסירת פרישות-שלום בארצנו הקדושה
ועל שדיווח לי על כך.
בעמדנו בימי סגולה ,בין י׳ וי״ט כסלו ,שודאי מכיר את משמעות
המאורעות באותם ימים היסטוריים ,יעזור השי״ת שיוכלו לבשר בשורות
טובות בכל הענינים אודותם כותב ,בפרט בענין שמזכיר בסיום מכתבו,
ואשר מיום ליום יתחזקו כל הענינים של אור ואורה ,שהרי זהו תוכן ימי
חנוכה בסיום החודש.
בברכה ואיחולים טובים.