6738 —נאומים המביאים לידי מעשה, רישום ראשי פרקים מהם, ותרגום בסגנון חפשי

B"H, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar II^[1], 5719
Brooklyn.

The Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, whose work is the work of Heaven^[2], Reb Moshe Yitzchak, may he live long

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter of Wednesday and the translation enclosed with it^[3]; your previous letter and translation were also received. I ask your forgiveness that their receipt was not acknowledged until now, because I hoped to go over the translation, at least hastily, but for the time being I have not managed it^[4], and apparently "the vision is yet for an appointed time"^[5].

I enjoyed the speeches you write about and their content; the main thing is that you draw (pull toward)^[6] the speech to practical action and practical mitzvos. Perhaps there would be room for you to record outlines of your speeches, so that they can be used in other places as well. Although one who speaks from himself is not like one who repeats the outline of a speech he heard from another, the story is known that there still remains room for each one to add something of his own – and it is easy to understand^[7].

With blessings for success in your holy work of drawing close the hearts of Jewish boys and girls through education in holiness and purity; and may your reward from Heaven be double, by the measure of the Holy One, blessed be He, which is measure for measure, only many times over^[8]: that together with your wife, the Rebbetzin, you raise your children, may they live, to Torah, to chuppah and to good deeds^[9].

With blessings for good news^[10] and for a happy Purim.

It is understood that translations such as the above must be done freely, since they must draw the reader by a light and flowing style^[11].

Material for a speech about Chassidus you can take also from the Kuntres Toras HaChassidus, Limud HaChassidus, Megillas Yud-Tes Kislev, Likkutei Dibburim of Chai Elul 5701, "The Rav of Liadi" (in English), and the like^[12].

Publisher's notes

Reb Moshe Yitzchak, may he live long (מו"ה משה יצחק שי'): Hecht, New Haven. Further letters to him: above, vol. 16, letter 5795, and the sources noted there.

Notes

1. The first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar II (אדר"ח אדר ב'): אדר"ח = א' דראש חודש: 30 Adar I, Tuesday, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar II.

2. The Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, whose work is the work of Heaven (הרה"ח אי"א נו"נ מלאכתו מלאכת שמים): הרה"ח = הרב החסיד, "the Chassid"; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים, "a G‑d-fearing man"; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד, "distinguished and honored". "Whose work is the work of Heaven": after Eruvin 13a, where R. Yishmael told R. Meir, a scribe: "My son, be careful in your work, for your work is the work of Heaven"; here the title is given to an educator.

3. The translation enclosed with it (והעתקה המצורפת אליו): העתקה here means a translation, as is clear from the end of the letter, where such translations must be "free"; similarly the Rebbe wrote that stories for newspapers must be "in a rendering suited to the character of the readers" (above, letter 6632).

4. For the time being I have not managed (עכ"פ... לע"ע לא עלתה בידי): המכ' = המכתב; עכ"פ = על כל פנים, "at least"; לע"ע = לעת עתה, "for the time being".

5. "The vision is yet for an appointed time" (עוד חזון למועד): After Chavakuk 2:3: "For the vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come." That is: its time has not yet come.

6. Draw (pull toward) (ציהט צו): Yiddish, "draws towards", "leads to".

7. Room for each one to add something of his own (מקום לכאו"א להוספה מדילי', וק"ל): כאו"א = כל אחד ואחד; מדילי' = "of his own"; וק"ל = וקל להבין, "and it is easy to understand". Although one who repeats another's words is not like one who speaks from himself, each adds something of his own; so it is worthwhile to record outlines of his speeches, for others to use and to add to, each in his own way.

8. Measure for measure, only many times over (מדה כנגד מדה אלא שכמה פעמים ככה): After Sanhedrin 90a: "for all the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, are measure for measure"; and Yoma 76a: "which measure is greater, the measure of good or the measure of punishment? Say, the measure of good." Just as he draws the hearts of Jewish children close through education, so, measure for measure, and many times over, may he and his wife raise their own children.

9. "To Torah, to chuppah and to good deeds" (לתורה ולחופה ולמעשים טובים): After Shabbos 137b: "Those standing by say: just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, chuppah and good deeds."

10. Good news (בשו"ט): בשו"ט = בשורות טובות.

11. Must be done freely (צ"ל באופן חפשי): כהנ"ל = "as above"; צ"ל = צריכות להיות, "must be". The translation must be free, not literal, so that the style is light and flowing and draws the reader.

12. Material for a speech about Chassidus (חומר לנאום ע"ד חסידות): קונ' = קונטרס; יט"כ = י"ט כסלו; לקו"ד = ליקוטי דיבורים. Kuntres Toras HaChassidus and Kuntres Limud HaChassidus are booklets by the Previous Rebbe; Likkutei Dibburim is a collection of the Previous Rebbe's talks; "The Rav of Liadi" is the Alter Rebbe, and here an English book of that name.

Summary

The Rebbe acknowledges an educator's letters and the translations he sent, praises his speeches for leading listeners to practical mitzvos, and suggests recording their outlines so others can use them and add their own. He blesses him and his wife, measure for measure, to raise their own children to Torah, chuppah and good deeds, asks that translations be free and flowing, and lists sources for speeches on Chassidus.