1034 —מזל טוב, שמירת זכרונות, ורישום היסטוריה אישית

B"H, 1st of Sivan, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Zalman Shimon

Shalom u'Vrachah!

It was pleasant to receive your letter informing me that you have set the date for your protégé's wedding for Thursday, the 10th of Sivan, G‑d willing. Please convey to her my blessing that the wedding should take place at a good and successful time and that they should build a home in Israel on the foundations of Torah and mitzvah as explained in Chassidus, and may they be blessed with upright generations.

With a double Mazal Tov.

I was pleased to read in your letter that you intend to record your memories from the years 5680–5686 (1920–1926) when you were in Rostov. Surely you will write them in detail, as stated by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal: when one relates a story, it must be conveyed with all its context—the time, place, and surroundings—as is brought in the talks of my father-in-law that his father, the Rebbe (the Rashab) of blessed memory, accustomed him to ask: "What do you remember?"—so that through this all matters he saw or heard would be deeply engraved in his memory. Especially now when forgetfulness is more prevalent in the world, it is very necessary that every story be written down with all its details.

Just as both the first and second Tablets were entirely "face" (i.e., complete), except that the first Tablets also affected the world so there would be no forgetfulness. See Likutei Torah D"H Lech Lecha 5666; Yom HaShmini Atzeres 5689; and more.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches us to preserve our personal histories with care and detail. Recording memories not only honors our past but ensures its lessons endure for future generations.