146 —הוצאה לאור, חדשות חב"ד, ומשמעות רוחנית של פרה והחודש

B"H, Tuesday, the 26th of Adar, 5704.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vaharaha"ch hanaaleh vavac"h iy"a maskil etc. hatamim Maharraml Radshtein

Shalom u'Vrachah!

a) Your letter (enclosed in the envelope of my father-in-law the Rebbe) has reached us. We were unsure whether to wait—with a thank you letter—until the matter is fully accomplished or not. However, as it appears from his recent note just received, his opinion is that the letter should be sent immediately. Enclosed are copies of the letter: a) to Flyer b) to Bnei Weissman.

b) Regarding completion of the printing—the Rebbe my father-in-law said he would allow his notes from the talks in Chicago to be printed. As soon as they reach us they will be added to what has already been typeset and will be published.

c) To print a picture of the deceased—I do not think this is appropriate at all. Nevertheless, I asked my father-in-law the Rebbe shlita and he responded negatively regarding this approach.

d) Certainly you will provide us with information about the life events of the departed—as much as is known with certainty.

e) A letter was received from Beit Midrash in Chicago. Since we do not know the situation there locally—and so there should not be contradictions between what you discussed and our reply—we answered as per the enclosed copy together with the letter we received (please return it to us). Thank you if you inform us what happens regarding this matter.

f) It would be interesting to know if you spoke with Rabbi Y. Flyer about an article from him in a newspaper regarding our publications (Yalkut Yomi, Shmuessen, our books), and if there were any results.

g) "Chai Elul" and our books volumes II and IV have surely arrived and certainly you will do all possible publicity for their dissemination; enclosed is what we printed here.

h) We are preparing to publish these days a bulletin in which will be written about events in Chabad world during the period from 19 Kislev 5704 to 9 Adar 5704. If you can provide us—promptly—with such information about what happened in your camp and surroundings during this time (appointment of a rabbi, opening a Talmud Torah or establishing a class etc.), I hope it will be "enough that they can act upon it" to include them in this bulletin. Better to send more information so we can shorten here rather than vice versa, obviously.

i) It was brought up—that perhaps it would be worthwhile for you to speak with the editorial board of "Pardes" that they print articles or at least short reviews about everything published by Kehot so far and going forward; make noise towards the editor: You etc.—why has nothing been done on this until now? If as I heard it cannot be done without payment—I rely on your understanding whether it is worthwhile.

j) Since "Morgen Journal" wrote about "U'Maayan" and "Hayom Yom" (and did not take payment!), perhaps also The Courier would do so regarding these or other books of ours; regarding payment if it cannot be done otherwise see previous paragraph.

I await your response on all of the above and conclude with heartfelt thanks for your efforts enabling publication of the booklet on Chassidus and explanations in Torah—and certainly you will continue even further.

The hint in these days between Parashat Parah and Parashat HaChodesh—the reason for their order is that one must purify oneself before offering Korban Pesach (see end Megillah with commentaries): purify oneself to reach a level akin to Exodus from Egypt (see Likkutei Torah D"H Zos Chukas p.262), as written in Haftarat Parashat Parah: "VeZarakti Aleichem Mayim Tehorim U'Tehartem..." (I will sprinkle pure water upon you and you shall be purified...), and our Sages said (Sanhedrin 39a): The main immersion is by fire (but anyone who cannot come into fire lest he burn should pass through water—Rashi). And purification—in spiritual life—is through Torah; as our Sages said (Eicha Rabbah at its beginning): 'They abandoned Me but kept My Torah—the light within it brings them back to good.' And within Torah itself—which is likened both to water and fire—the main immersion is by fire: Pnimiyus HaTorah (see Hayom Yom p.79 on this), as emphasized by 'the light within it.' As explained by commentators on Midrash: but some may get burned; therefore first comes passing through water—the revealed part of Torah—and then fire (perhaps this explains double language 'pure water' then 'and you shall be purified'). One could say that Chassidus includes both qualities: fire—and also that one cannot get burned; on the contrary, Chassidus explains even greater value in returning through working with one's animal soul—not via breaking but as explained by Baal Shem Tov on 'When you see your donkey...' Therefore specifically in our generation—the footsteps before Mashiach's coming—when complete redemption like leaving Egypt is being revealed ever more strongly—the light of Chassidus shines most brightly (see letters from Admor Hazaken printed in Hatamim vol.3 p.55 & Kuntres Ayin Ches)—purification by water & fire precedes redemption: Parashat Parah then Parashat HaChodesh. And whoever helps purify Israel—their reward is understood from Zohar III p.98a: 'Fortunate is the portion of those friends who prepare her adornments when the King seeks out His Queen.'

Summary

The Rebbe addresses practical matters related to publishing Chabad works and gathering community news while drawing deep lessons from Parashat Parah and HaChodesh about spiritual purification through both revealed Torah ('water') and inner Torah ('fire'), leading toward redemption.