167 —שליחת ספרי לימוד ותמיכה למחנה פליטים

B"H, 21 Menachem Av, 5704.

Esteemed Rabbi Reb Moshe Yehuda, may he live, Tsaakavol, Refugee Camp, Oswego, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Surely your honor received the telegram from our Nasi, the Rebbe Rayatz shlita of Lubavitch, and its Yiddish copy is enclosed. As chairman of the executive committee of the Central Organization for Education and Machne Yisrael, I hereby repeat our blessing—greetings and welcome on behalf of all our colleagues.

By order of our Nasi, the Rebbe Rayatz shlita, we have sent your honor a package from the camp office containing educational and reading books as well as the monthly "HaKriah VeHaKedusha," which will serve as a solid foundation for a library by the camp synagogue. The value and benefit of these printed materials will be evident to your honor. As stated in the telegram from the Rebbe Rayatz shlita to you and also in his telegram to the head of the camp—and in telegrams sent from our offices at the Central Organization for Education and Machne Yisrael—we wish to send representatives from these institutions to visit you and our fellow Jews among the refugees, to learn firsthand how we can extend help and support in education and maintaining Judaism in general.

The above central institutions under the leadership of our Nasi, the Rebbe Rayatz shlita, have already succeeded with G‑d's help in achieving great things in America and Canada by founding kosher educational institutions and publishing learning and reading books imbued with Torah spirit—in Hebrew, Yiddish, and English. We are confident that with G‑d's help we can also accomplish much good in your camp.

As for Mr. Smart, head of the camp—whom we have officially approached to allow our visit soon—he is surely busy with various matters. It would be appropriate for your honor to approach him on behalf of all refugees to urge him to expedite permission for our visit so that we can discuss with you at length all these matters concerning the welfare of our fellow Jews among the refugees.

We hope to hear from you soon. Please convey regards to him and all our fellow Jews in the camp. With feelings of blessing and affection,

Rabbi Menachem Schneersohn
Chairman of Executive Committee of Central Organization for Education & Machne Yisrael

Printed in Igros Kodesh Admor Mohariyatz vol. 8 p. 375 (see also Likkutei Sichos vol. 23 p. 422). See there for content of this letter.

* * *

In the days following this letter's writing, news reached the Rebbe Rayatz shlita about his father's passing—the esteemed rabbi and chassidic kabbalist Reb Levi Yitzchak Schneersohn z"l—on 20 Menachem Av. This is apparently why no letters were received from late Menachem Av or Elul 5704 except for one later letter whose English version begins (translated into Hebrew): This is my first opportunity... Recently my father passed away hk"m. The delay in responding was unavoidable.

Summary

The Rebbe emphasizes practical support for Jewish education among refugees by sending books and seeking direct engagement through visits—demonstrating care not only through words but concrete action on behalf of Jewish continuity even in challenging circumstances.