939 —אפשערעניש, חינוך, ולימוד חסידות לכל הקהילות

B"H, Eve of Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheni, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavaha"ch iy"a nu"m etc. Ephraim Wolf

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letters from the 22nd of Teves, the 7th and 16th of Shevat: On the occasion of your son Elokim's third birthday, I send my blessing that you should raise him together with your other children for Torah, marriage, and good deeds with abundance. Enclosed is an excerpt from a letter of my father-in-law, the Rebbe Rayatz, regarding the custom of cutting hair at three years old (specifically not earlier).

May it be G‑d's will that you soon share good news about your wife's health as well as your sons' health and success—the older ones in their studies and the younger ones in their physical and spiritual growth in holiness. It is known that there are several levels in entering nefesh d'kedushah (a holy soul), which depend on time—and these precede those dependent on a person's actions. As Sava d'Mishpatim says (Zohar II 94b): "If he merits more is given to him..." These include: at circumcision (and for a girl—according to Avodah Zarah 27a—possibly at naming; as even for a boy the name is given no later than his bris though sometimes earlier as with Rachel naming Binyamin or Eli HaKohen's daughter-in-law), when reaching chinuch (education), when becoming obligated in mitzvos (see Shulchan Aruch HaRav Orach Chaim Mahadura Basra end of Siman Daled), age twenty (see Likkutei Torah Bamidbar s.v. MiBen Esrim)—that is nineteen years and thirty days or twenty years minus thirty days (depending on two opinions in Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 155:12; see also Hilchos Talmud Torah by the Alter Rebbe ch.1 Kuntres Acharon). Thus, as one grows older he approaches higher levels of entering nefesh d'kedushah.

In response to your question—since your work is in Lod and you are succeeding there—it would be appropriate for your family to move there so you can all be together...

Regarding your question about teaching Chassidus to Sephardim (adults or children): In the yeshivos and Talmud Torahs "Oholei Yosef Yitzchak-Lubavitch" we opened in Morocco they study Tanya, Likkutei Torah, kuntreisim etc., and we have seen success and a new spirit in their learning and mitzvah observance. Similarly, Haraha"ch vavaha"ch iy"a nu"m etc. Reb Sholom Laivitin relates that he once asked my grandfather the Rebbe Rashab about this regarding Georgia; he answered that they should teach it—and so they did—and now there are great scholars from that learning. If it was so then, how much more so now when we are decades closer to Moshiach's coming! We have seen from my father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz tremendous efforts to spread the wellsprings of Chassidus in many ways and among all circles that can be reached.

May knowledge increase awareness of Hashem; may our master come to reveal the secrets of Torah; may the earth be filled with knowledge of Hashem.

Blessings for success in your holy work and abundant success in all matters—materially and spiritually.

On behalf of the entire group.

...Regarding cutting hair—upshernish—it is a significant Jewish custom whose essence is chinuch through leaving peyos (side locks). From the day of cutting and leaving peyos it is customary to train the child in wearing tzitzis, reciting morning blessings, Birchas HaMazon, and Shema before bed. May Hashem help you raise him for Torah, marriage, good deeds with ample livelihood and peace of mind both materially and spiritually.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that upshernish marks an important stage in a child's spiritual development tied to chinuch. He encourages spreading Chassidus widely—even among new communities—and emphasizes nurturing children physically and spiritually from an early age.