951 —ברכות על המינוי לראש אב בית דין

B"H, 12 Adar Sheni, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vaharaha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n beneshek etc. etc. Ephraim Eliezer HaKohen

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With pleasure and delight I received (in German: angerirt; see Likkutei Torah, beginning of Parshas Shemini 18a, end of first column) your letter informing me that you were chosen at the Rabbinical Conference convened by the heads of the city council as Rosh Av Beit Din.

May it be G‑d's will that you succeed in this position to draw into the Beit Din (Gevurot) the aspect of "Av" (the merciful and compassionate one; see Likkutei Torah, discourses for Rosh Hashanah, "Shehamamlichin") and even more so as "Rosh Av Beit Din," whose letters spell "Asher," from the word for delight and happiness (see Likkutei Torah at its beginning and also Ketzos HaYam commentary, beginning of section 3), so that there will be mutual delight both for your honor and for those who are guided by you.

I do not have much time now due to preparations for Purim to answer your letters properly; instead, I am enclosing a booklet for Purim and a copy of my general letter related to it. May this be accepted in place of a full response which I hope to send in the coming days.

I sign off echoing my opening words with blessings for success in your new appointment and wish you all good forever.

I am also enclosing with much thanks a letter from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, written to you on 28 Adar 5702. Therefore I am sending this letter with responsibility.

Note: Seemingly, the title "Rosh Av" is redundant language; at the end of Horayot it is called "Av Beit Din." Perhaps the acronym Raavad stands for "Rosh Avot Batei Dinim," though this is forced. In any case, our intent is clear: that you succeed in your position and fulfill the role of head who leads all limbs and arranges them so each fulfills its unique function. In Otzar Yisrael under Av Beit Din: Raavad—our teacher Av Beit Din. In Sefer HaRashtei Teivot (Perlman): Rosh Beit Din—and this too seems forced.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that leadership in Torah roles should be filled with compassion, joy, and responsibility toward those one guides. Even amidst busyness, sharing encouragement and blessings uplifts others in their sacred work.