6047 - Encouragement and Blessing for the Work of N’shei u’Bnos Chabad

Holy letters of the Rebbe, Volume 16, Letter 6047. Baruch Hashem, the 12th of Shevat, 5718, to the Chassid, Rabbi Yisrael Stock in Bridgeport, CT. Shalom u’vracha.

The Stock family had another brother who lived for many years in Crown Heights; he was a person with a loud voice who established the Chevra Simchas Shabbos V’Yom Tov, which helped fund families in need of food. Rabbi Stock of bridgeport also ran a day camp for many years.

In the very beginning of the letter, the Rebbe writes: "Shalom u’vracha. In a timely manner, I received your letter in which you write that you established Agudas N’shei u’Bnos Chabad—a group for the women and daughters of Chabad in your community—as the Rebbe has asked all communities to establish."

The Rebbe then says, "Okay, you wrote about establishing it, but what about getting some reports? How is it going? I’m surprised that from the time it was established, there is no news about it." Sometimes people establish something and then forget, but the Rebbe says, "No, what is going on?"

The Rebbe is not suspecting that things aren’t happening, but he says, "For sure you will fill me in at the next opportunity very soon about how things are going with this new organization."

As you noticed, this was written two days after Yud Shevat. From the 9th of Shevat to the 12th of Shevat, there were no letters; the Rebbe was apparently fully occupied with his father-in-law's yartzeit. Yud Shevat was on Friday, Shabbos was the 11th, and this letter was written on Monday, the 12th of Shevat.

In any event, the Rebbe says that since we are coming from the yom hillula (yartzeit) of his father-in-law—who put in so much effort regarding the women and daughters of Chabad in many ways—it is an opportune time. If everyone does what is up to them in a natural way, their work and success will be blessed in a supernatural way.

Because our holy leaders are arousing great compassion for the success of this service, if you act naturally, you will be blessed above nature. The Rebbe prays that you should report only good things from your holy work, the development of the holy institution that you lead, and your activities in spreading the wellsprings in all possible ways in your community and the surrounding areas.

The Rebbe finishes with the known saying of our sages: "Ein lecha davar omed bifnei haratzon"—nothing stands in the way of the will. The Rebbe concludes with a blessing and says he is looking forward to good news.

So the Rebbe is writing to Rabbi Stock: "You wrote that you established this women's organization, but I don't hear any reports. Maybe you'll fill me in next time." The Rebbe says now is an opportune time; if you do your part naturally, it will be blessed above nature because the holy Rebbes are praying for our success. The Rebbe blesses him to give good news from his institutions and his activities in spreading the wellsprings, ending with a blessing and looking forward to good news.