4952 —שאלה על מחבר מרכבת המשנה ובקשת כתבי יד

B"H, 17 Kislev, 5717. Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n involved in tzt"z ish rav pe'alim etc. Mendel

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter in due time as well as the regards via your son-in-law, Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n involved in tzt"z ba'al middos etc. Azriel Zelig Shlomo(n), and its content regarding the printing of a manuscript whose content proves that its author is the same as the author of Merkevet HaMishneh, namely the holy Reb Adam Baal Shem. Naturally, I was surprised by this news.

I delayed my response until I could find some source or foundation that the author of Merkevet HaMishneh is indeed Reb Adam Baal Shem. After searching and investigating, so far I have only found a conjecture by Rav Reuven Margaliot, as printed in the weekly 'Bamishor' on 12 Iyar 5701. I must say that his conjecture seems to me to be a mountain hanging by a hair—and perhaps even less than a conjecture, hanging in midair.

I have never heard from my father-in-law, my revered teacher and Rebbe zatzal (may his merit protect us), that anything was printed by Reb Adam Baal Shem. And although "we have neither seen nor heard" is not absolute proof, in this case it is surprising: over all these years he never mentioned or wrote about this matter, despite dedicating much time to the famous Genizah letters which discuss Reb Adam Baal Shem at length.

It is clear that relying on the publisher's introduction to Merkevet HaMishneh—which I heard claims that in his generation he was called Reb Adam—is not sufficient at all to explain this silence regarding all the stories and traditions passed down in the house of the Rebbeim, from one Rebbe to another up to our master the Alter Rebbe who received from the Maggid who received from our teacher the Baal Shem Tov—without mentioning that the author of Merkevet HaMishneh is also he whose writings reached the Baal Shem Tov etc.

Perhaps you have another basis or source for this report; please let me know specifically if so.

I am also very interested to know if your manuscript collection contains Chassidic writings of Chabad leaders or manuscripts from the Baal Shem Tov or Maggid which have not yet been published; thank you in advance for informing me about this as well.

Enclosed is something recently published which will surely interest you.

Summary

The Rebbe demonstrates careful scholarship by questioning unsubstantiated claims about authorship and emphasizes reliance on solid sources and tradition. He encourages thorough investigation before accepting historical assertions and expresses interest in uncovering unpublished Chassidic manuscripts.