1203 —הוצאת ספרי תורה, דאגות לאחדות, וחלוקת ספרים בארץ ישראל

B"H, 16 Elul, 5711.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haraha"g veHaraha"ch vavac"h iy"a num tzam"s chov ossek betzt"z etc. etc. Mehorash"y

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter from Erev Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Eikev, and surely by now my letters with the booklet of notes on Megillat Eichah have also reached you. Likewise, I received your letter from the 26th of Menachem Av in due time, with an enclosed copy of my letter to Aguch.

I am somewhat concerned that recently I have not heard about your participation in the work of Aguch in Eretz HaKodesh (may it be rebuilt and established), though I reassure myself that this is surely only due to distance. Some time ago they sent to Chief Rabbi Herzog shlita, as well as to you, the newly reprinted halachic rulings; yet no confirmation of receipt has been received. I do not know whether the books were lost en route or delayed along the way.

You surely know that for a long time I have been involved—by instruction of my father-in-law the previous Rebbe zatzal—in republishing again the Shedei Chemed. Thank G‑d that despite the tremendous expenses and great effort involved, we have already published nine volumes; and I hope that after the holidays the final volume—the tenth—will also be published. This includes the author's will, Kuntres Be'er BaSadeh, Netzach Yosef, etc., and most importantly newly arranged indexes: subject indexes, author indexes, etc. When it is published G‑d willing it will be sent to you.

I am very pained by the division among the chareidi parties in Eretz HaKodesh (may it be rebuilt and established), especially since some prefer party gains at the expense and detriment of overall chareidi Judaism; for you who are present there further elaboration is unnecessary...

I was glad to hear from your letter that the third volume of the encyclopedia is already being bound and that you are now working on the fourth volume. How much I would enjoy having all volumes in my library—they are of great benefit to anyone interested in our holy Torah—and further elaboration is unnecessary; yet I do not even have a single volume in my library.

You wondered in your letter why Anash in Paris are not traveling to Eretz HaKodesh (may it be rebuilt and established). Apparently this is due to letters and reports they receive from their acquaintances and relatives in Kfar Chabad; for throughout this time only a few have actually asked me whether to travel to Eretz HaKodesh (may it be rebuilt and established), and apparently those are preparing to make aliyah.

In these days I will return one of your two booklets.

Summary

The Rebbe highlights ongoing Torah publishing projects despite challenges, urges unity among religious groups in Eretz Yisrael for communal strength, values Torah scholarship resources like encyclopedias for all who study Torah, and notes factors influencing aliyah decisions.