4866 —תודה על התשורה של חפצי כ"ק אדמו"ר מהורש"ב, וברכה לשמחה הפורצת גדר עם גמר החתימה בכסלו

B"H, 25 Marcheshvan, 5717

Brooklyn.

My relative by marriage, the veteran Chassid, G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, son of holy ones, our teacher Rabbi Shmuel Abba, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Not long ago there reached me what you handed over through my relative, the Rabbi and Chassid, G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, of many deeds and fine character, our teacher Rabbi Azriel Zelig Slonim, may he live: a comb of the Rebbe Rashab^[1], a snuff box, and also a handkerchief. Since he does not know clearly the details concerning the last years, and our Sages, of blessed memory, said, "whoever gives, gives generously"^[2], you surely know the details — to whom they belonged and the sequence of how they passed from hand to hand. Many, many thanks for your gift and also for the trouble of writing.

And since we have just entered a new year — and especially according to the saying current in Poland, where you lived for a number of years, that the final sealing is in the month of Kislev, in the days of Chanukah^[3] — may it be G‑d's will that the renewal of mazal and the increase in the blessing of the Creator and Guide of the world have their effect in daily life, in visible and revealed good, materially and spiritually together; and as has been said a number of times, great is joy, which breaks through bounds^[4] and removes the measures and limits in this.

With blessing for good news.

Publisher's notes

Rabbi Shmuel Abba: Shapiro. Other letters to him — above, vol. 11, letter 2966, and the sources noted there.

Notes

[1] The Rebbe Rashab (כ"ק אדמו"ר מהורש"ב): Rabbi Shalom DovBer, the fifth Rebbe of Chabad.

[2] Whoever gives, gives generously (כל הנותן בעין יפה נותן): one who gives a gift with a good eye gives everything connected with it. The Rebbe therefore asks to be told the items' history as well — whose they were and how they reached him.

[3] The final sealing is in Kislev, in the days of Chanukah (גמר החתימה היא בחדש כסלו בימי חנוכה): a saying among the Chassidim of Poland, that the final sealing of the new year comes not on Yom Kippur or Hoshana Rabbah but on Chanukah. So even now, in Marcheshvan, one still stands at the beginning of the year.

[4] Joy breaks through bounds (שמחה פורצת גדר): a saying often quoted by our Rebbeim: joy breaks through every limitation, so that blessing is drawn down without measure.

Summary

This letter thanks the recipient, a relative by marriage, for a comb, a snuff box and a handkerchief of the Rebbe Rashab, sent through Rabbi Azriel Zelig Slonim, and asks for their history. Citing the Polish saying that the final sealing of the new year comes on Chanukah, it blesses him with joy that breaks through every limit.