3541 —שלום בין החסידים וחשיבות האחדות בהנהגה

B"H, 9 Sivan, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the eve of the time of the Giving of our Torah and its theme, as our sages say (brought in Rambam at the end of Hilchos Chanukah): "Great is peace, for the entire Torah was given to make peace in the world," as it is said: "Deracheha Darchei Noam v'Chol Nesivoseha Shalom" (Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace). I have spoken with him several times in person and have also written in my letters that there must be peace among Anash. As the saying goes from my revered teacher the tzt"z: Alef-Beis-Gimmel-Daled—Achdus (unity), Berachah (blessing), Gaavah (pride), Dalus (poverty); and these refer to matters both physical and certainly spiritual.

It is also understood that if there were no reason for a lack of peace, there would be no need to urge or warn about it in various ways. Therefore, even if logic dictates otherwise—even if true logic or even nefesh habehamis logic says so—nonetheless, one must strive for peace. That is why there are many warnings and wondrous assurances regarding peace. See also Likkutei Torah on three parshiyos at the end of Parshas Noach.

And since, in addition to all this, every person is close to himself and therefore personally involved, self-love inevitably blinds judgment. As brought in Shas regarding great Amoraim in such matters: there is no diminishment or lowering of honor, G‑d forbid, if one’s own reasoning leads him to see things not as they truly are because he is personally involved.

After all this—even if one were right one hundred percent—it is impossible for any institution to be run by several people with differing opinions. It is already known: one thing for a generation and not two things—even though salvation comes with many counselors—one must rely on the decision of those who manage the institution, even though they too are human and can err. There is no other way; otherwise disorder will enter all institutions—especially an institution of holiness where the yetzer hara stands ready for any slight weakening or division among hearts to magnify it further.

I have already written once that when my revered teacher and father-in-law was actively managing Tomchei Temimim in Lubavitch—even his own father did not intervene in yeshivah matters except through him. Once there was a disagreement between them for some reason, and his father said they should act according to my father-in-law’s instruction. This serves as a precedent—and all the more so regarding what you write about management...

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that unity and peace among Chassidim are fundamental values that must be preserved above personal opinions or disagreements. Effective leadership depends on respecting established authority and maintaining harmony for both spiritual growth and organizational success.