[ח' ניסן, תשי"ז]
...נכון הדבר לפתח כשרון הדרוש והנאום. והשי"ת יצליחו גם בזה.
קרה"ת בימי חנוכה - מנהגנו עפמש"כ בשו"ת צמח צדק[1] הועתק בקונ' ברוך שעשה נסים. וכ"כ גם הרר"ב שי' נאה בלוח כולל חב"ד*, שעברתי עליו[2]. ופליאה מה גרם לספק בהנהגת חב"ד מפורסמת.
*) ב' דחנוכה קורא לכהן ביום השני גו'. עד מלאה קטרת. לוי, עד בן צוער. ישראל, ביום השלישי גו', (ועד"ז כל ימי חנוכה).
B"H, 8th of Nissan, 5717.
It is indeed correct to develop the talent for derush (public speaking) and oratory. May Hashem grant him success in this as well.
The Torah reading during the days of Chanukah—our custom is according to what is written in the tzt"z responsa, as copied in the booklet Baruch SheAsah Nissim. So too wrote Harav R' Binyamin Naeh in the Luach of Kollel Chabad, which I reviewed. It is astonishing what could have caused doubt regarding this well-known Chabad practice.
* On the second day of Chanukah: The Kohen reads from "on the second day..." until "and filled it with incense." The Levi reads until "Ben Tzoar." The Yisrael reads from "on the third day..." (and so on for all days of Chanukah).
Summary
The Rebbe encourages developing one's public speaking abilities and clarifies that Chabad's custom for Chanukah Torah readings is longstanding and based on authoritative sources, leaving no room for doubt about its authenticity.