Igrot Kodesh · Letter 945 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,
11 Adar Sheni 5711,
Brooklyn,

To the distinguished chassid* who has yiras Shamayim*, who fulfills his task faithfully and dedicates himself to communal needs, Rav Y. HaKohen[1],

Greetings and blessings,

I have received your letters of erev Rosh Chodesh* Adar Sheni and of 6 Adar Sheni. Due to my many occupations, I was unable to respond until now. You will surely not hold this against me.

I have received the sum that you transmitted to me for tzedakah*, so that I might distribute it as I see fit. I divided it into two halves. I devoted the first to your commitment to publish the Piskei Dinim[2], and the second to our common work, on the other side of the ocean[3]. As for the receipts, we do not send them as long as you do not request them.

Concerning the activities of our friend, distinguished chassid* who has yiras Shamayim*, Rav Yosef Robinson[4], I am very surprised that you have not yet obtained that loan. I hope to go, on erev Purim, to the tziyun* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe. The checks are still in your possession, and you will therefore keep them until after Purim.

Enclosed you will find a receipt for the donation of thirty-five dollars made for the elevation of the neshama* of Ephraim Golub. Can you tell me his mother's name?

I thank you from the depths of my heart for the good news that you announced to me regarding Mr. ... I am surprised that he did not write to me himself, for he promised me to personally announce the good news. He reported to you the terms of our discussion, in the course of which he committed himself to giving three thousand dollars to publish the seforim* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.

I answered him that he should ask his son to begin putting on tefillin*, every day[5]. Then he again brought up the financial question, and I told him that three thousand was too large a sum, that two thousand five hundred would suffice to print these seforim*.

I hope that he will keep both promises, that of the tefillin* and that of the seforim*, so that we may announce good news to one another always and every day.

I do not know the address of Mr. ... and I would therefore like to charge you with transmitting to him the letter[5] and receipt enclosed. I thank you in advance.

With my blessing of a joyous Purim and for all good,

Notes
[1] Rav Y. Katz of Chicago. See letter no. 822 regarding him.
[2] The halachic responsa of the Tzemach Tzedek.
[3] In North Africa.
[4] See letter no. 947.
[5] See the following letter.