ב"ה, כ"ט שבט, תשי"ח
ברוקלין.
שלום וברכה!
...לפלא גדול שבנו שי' לא התחיל להניח תפלין שני חדשים קודם הבר מצוה והרי הוראה מפורשת היא מכ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר אשר כולנו נמצאים באתרי דילי' וחל חיוב הנחת תפלין מתחיל מיום זה עכ"פ מצד הפס"ד דבאתרי נהוג כמותי' ובפרט את"ל דדון מיני' ואוקי באתרי - ה"ז חיוב גם מצד הנחת תפלין. ואכ"מ.
This letter, 6,082, is a classic example of the Rebbe’s firm stance on maintaining the customs (minhagim) established by his father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe.
Here is a smoother, more structured version of your summary:
Overview of Letter #6,082
In this letter from Volume 16 of Igros Kodesh, dated 29 Shevat, 5718 (1958), the Rebbe writes to a father expressing "great surprise" (L'pela gadol) regarding his son’s Bar Mitzvah preparations. Specifically, the Rebbe is concerned that the boy had not yet begun wearing Tefillin, despite being within the two-month window prior to his Bar Mitzvah.
The Halakhic Authority of the Rebbe
The Rebbe bases his surprise on a specific directive from the Previous Rebbe. He frames the obligation using a well-known Halakhic principle:
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"In the Rebbe's City": The Rebbe explains that because we are "in the place" (ba’atrei) of the Previous Rebbe and follow his leadership, his rulings carry the weight of a binding obligation (Chiyuv).
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The Two-Month Rule: While many communities have different customs regarding when a boy starts wearing Tefillin (some a month before, some only on the day of the Bar Mitzvah), Chabad custom is strictly two months prior.
Addressing Potential Counter-Arguments
The Rebbe briefly touches upon a technical Halakhic concept, "Don minei v’oki ba’atrei" (infer from one case and apply it to its own place).
The Point: Even if one were to try and argue that they are not "in the Rebbe's city" or that this specific custom shouldn't apply to them for technical reasons, the Rebbe dismisses this. He asserts that the obligation to start two months early is a direct result of following the Previous Rebbe's rulings as the local authority (Mara D’Atra).
Conclusion: A Strong Directive
The Rebbe keeps the letter concise ("v’akmal" — and there is no need to prolong this further), but his message is unmistakable. For a Chassid, starting Tefillin two months before a Bar Mitzvah is not merely a "nice suggestion" or a stringency; it is a fundamental requirement based on the instructions of the Rebbe.