201 —שליחת חוברות, קניית חומש, ומשמעות מעכה

B"H, Tuesday, the 23rd of the month M"Ch, 5706.

Brooklyn, NY.

Honored and distinguished one iy"a vavac"h engaged in the work of Hashem chon etc. Mahor"y.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the end of last week along with the check for $4141 for the subscription fees for the talks and tax according to the list you sent, the booklets for Tishrei and Mar-Cheshvan were immediately sent to the above signatories.

Regarding the chumashim: it is possible to obtain a Chumash Bereishis with Rashi at a price of 41–45 cents per chumash. If you meant this type of chumash and agree to this price, we are ready to arrange its purchase and shipment.

To conclude with words of Torah: At the end of last week's sidra regarding "his concubine... and Maachah," it is customary when teaching students to explain that Maachah was the daughter of his concubine. I have seen that there is a dispute about this interpretation. The verse "and his concubine..." has three explanations: (1) The verse recounts all the good news told to Avraham (Ramban); (2) The messenger also reported that even his concubine bore Maachah, who could have been suitable for his son if Rivkah had not been chosen (Sforno); (3) It equated their families with Avraham's families... eight sons from wives and four from concubines (Rashi and Bereishis Rabbah; but according to our Sages' language it refers only to Milcah—perhaps because sons of concubines are associated with their mothers, as said about Hagar, Bilhah, Zilpah; though not entirely similar since they were maidservants—this still needs clarification).

According to Sforno, Maachah is a woman's name; but according to Rashi—the primary commentator—and based on Midrash, it must be said that Maachah is also a son; otherwise we would have to say another child was born in Nachor's house corresponding to Dinah. I later found in Sefer HaYashar that Maachah is explicitly called Nachor's son. Apparently, the custom developed to explain Maachah as a daughter and diverge from Rashi's necessary conclusion because Rashi does not state this explicitly; in teaching Nach it became common that Maachah is a woman's name (such as David's wife or Rechavam's or Aviyah's wife—see Rashi on Divrei HaYamim II 13:2). But we also find Maachah as a man's name (Divrei HaYamim I 11:43; 23:16), since it is forced to say they were named after their mother. We have many names used for both males and females equally (see Ibn Ezra at end of Vayishlach and Ramban's commentary there).

Summary

The Rebbe addresses practical matters like sending booklets and arranging purchases while also delving into Torah study by analyzing interpretations about Maachah’s identity in scripture—demonstrating attention both to communal needs and deep learning.