622 —משוב על ספרו של רמ"י אודות הבעש"ט והצעות ביבליוגרפיות

B"H, 13 Sivan 5710.

Vavac"h iy"a nu"m bar avhan etc. Harav RMY shiyichyeh

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter after a considerable delay, and as per your request, a separate package has been sent to you containing booklets and talks in Chassidic teachings that have been published by Kehot. I am sure you will confirm their receipt. Also, as you wrote in your letter, you will send some of your books to the library of the Merkaz L'Inyanei Chinuch, for which I thank you in advance.

Your book "R.Y. Baal Shem Tov" (Tel Aviv 5709) came into my hands for a short while, and I was unable to read it at length. However, it appears that when writing this book you did not see several talks of my father-in-law, the Rebbe hk"m. For example: page 3 states that the Baal Shem Tov was born around the year 5500; it is known by family tradition that he was born on 18 Elul in the year Nachat (5458). On page 5 regarding his father's words to him before his passing: according to family tradition he told him not only about fear of Hashem but also immediately about Ahavas Yisrael—one of the main principles of the Baal Shem Tov's approach and conduct. The day of his passing—Sunday of Parashat Chukat. There are almost no details about the hidden tzaddikim and the Baal Shem Tov before his revelation, especially his discussions with Reb Adam and his son, etc. See all this in printed talks: 20 Kislev 5693; 18 Elul 5700; 18 Elul 5701; 18 Elul 5703; 18 Elul 5705; letters from the archive printed in Hatamim (which you rely on since you cite them in your book p.21), and more.

A general note in passing: I saw that in your above-mentioned book—which is full of sayings of the Baal Shem Tov—you cite quotes from books by students of the Baal Shem Tov...and from Professor Hofland, Lazarus Kant, M. Nordau. It is surprising that "the secret revealed by 'the great philosopher Kant' was—by contrast—already revealed by the Baal Shem Tov to an old student," and so forth. Note that the word "by contrast" (lehavdil) is my own addition! It does not appear in your book.

Technical note: It would seem appropriate to add a bibliography at the end of your book and a list of books used.

With best wishes for all good things,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Summary

The Rebbe encourages thorough scholarship by referencing primary sources and suggests adding bibliographic details for clarity and completeness when publishing Torah works.