2455 —חסידות היא לכל בני ישראל, הפצת אורה, ופרסום סיפורים

B"H, the 5th of Iyar, 5714. Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vaharaha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n Kotev veSofer Moreinu HaRav Avraham Stern

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter—without indication of when it was written—and afterwards I received your book "Chutim HaMeshulashim." May Hashem grant you merit and success to increase Torah and glorify it and to spread the light of Chassidus—its guidance and customs—in ever wider circles. It is already known the saying of our Rebbe the Alter Rebbe, as we heard from our holy teacher my father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal (may his merit protect us), that Chassidus is not something belonging to one class in Israel but to all Jews for all generations. Fortunate is the portion of each person who strives to spread the wellsprings outward.

With blessings for long life and good years and success in your holy work.

P.S. Enclosed is a protest regarding your private publication.

Notes, as I quickly passed through the pages of the book: In the introduction, page 75: Regarding zemiros—see Tanya in Kuntres Acharon beginning with "David Zemiros." And at length in Likkutei Torah Bamidbar 18a and onward.

Story one in the introduction, page 10a: The secret of mikveh etc.—the explanation needs clarification because this is not "the secret of mikveh," but rather the simple meaning of the matter. The explanation of the saying: elevation from mundane to holiness, and from holiness to higher holiness—(this is like the five immersions on Yom Kippur; immersion on Shabbat eve even if he immersed on Friday; and similar cases).

Story three: That the Baal Shem Tov specifically took care of his needs and then read the note before blessing "Baruch Atah Hashem" so he could find it etc.—even if this story was received person-to-person and accurate in every detail, it is questionable whether it was appropriate to publish it in print and in Yiddish. Especially since according to our Sages a bathroom is the opposite of "and your camp shall be holy," and afterwards one must hurry to wash hands because an evil spirit rests etc.; it seems almost certain that either this story or some essential details are not true. The matter regarding Nefilas Apayim proves that it is a great descent to elevate from kelipos until it is considered like death, which is omitted where there is a Sefer Torah etc.

Story five, end: It requires clarification to reconcile this story so that it fits with Torah law. And even if all details are true and accurate—as above—publishing such stories connected with the name of the Baal Shem Tov and Chassidus—the loss is certain while any gain is very doubtful.

End of story nineteen, page 73c: According to the ruling in Magen Avraham Orach Chaim end section 156: Anyone who does not say something in the name of its speaker transgresses a prohibition—it follows that the ending of this story is not true. I am surprised at your honor for printing such a thing about our Rebbe the Alter Rebbe, even though surely your intention was good.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that Chassidus belongs to all Jews across generations. He encourages spreading its teachings broadly while emphasizing careful accuracy when publishing stories about chassidic figures so as not to mislead or diminish their honor.