6739 —הפצת המעינות: הצורך בדיווחים תכופים ומפורטים

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

My relative, the Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs^[2], Reb Shmuel Menachem Mendel, may he live long^[3]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After the very longest interruption^[4], your letter of 24 Adar I was received, and the one after it, with an outline of what has been done in the activities of spreading the wellsprings^[5] in the past weeks. The long interruption between one letter and the next is surprising, especially with regard to good news^[6] and joyous tidings – "and there is no good but Torah"^[7], "and there is no joy like the resolving of doubts"^[8]: are they active in spreading the wellsprings, etc.? – and it is easy to understand^[9].

In addition, there is another point: when time drags on, details are forgotten, and sometimes whole matters^[10]. It is understood that I do not mean to preach, but only^[11] with regard to the future; and also that you should rouse the rest of Anash^[12] who write, about the above as well.

May it be G‑d's will that the news be good, joyous and also detailed, beginning from these days of the month of Adar, and "joining redemption to redemption"^[13] to Nissan, until the promise is fulfilled: "In Nissan they were redeemed, and in Nissan they are destined to be redeemed"^[14].

With blessings for good news, and with blessings of mazal tov on the birth of your daughter, may she live for long and good days, amen – notice of which has just been received – and may you raise her, and all your offspring, may they live long, to Torah, to chuppah and to good deeds^[15],

M. Schneersohn

Publisher's notes

Printed: in Likkutei Sichos vol. 23, p. 543, and completed from a photocopy of the letter.

Reb Shmuel Menachem Mendel, may he live long (מו"ה שמואל מנחם מענדל שי'): Schneersohn, Jerusalem. Further letters to him: above, vol. 17, letter 6434, and the references in the notes there; below, letter 6864.

Notes

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

2. My relative, the Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs (ש"ב הרה"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ): ש"ב = שאר בשרי, "my relative"; הרה"ח = הרב החסיד, "the Chassid"; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים, "a G‑d-fearing man"; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד, "distinguished and honored"; עוסק בצ"צ = עוסק בצרכי ציבור, "engaged in communal needs".

3. Reb Shmuel Menachem Mendel, may he live long (מו"ה שמואל מנחם מענדל שי'): Schneersohn, Jerusalem. R. Shmuel Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, son of R. Yisrael Yosef, a relative of the Rebbe, one of the activists of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad in Jerusalem, who used to write to the Rebbe about their activities (see letters 4530, 5626, 5669), and also asked about customs (4008) and the wording of the Tanya (4530). For the 5718 learning year he went to study at the Rebbe's court and stayed there about half a year; at the Purim farbrengen of 5718 the Rebbe said: "My relative is here; let him come up and say l'chaim." He later served on the board of Kollel Chabad and was one of the elder Chassidim of Jerusalem; he passed away in Tammuz 5779, aged ninety-one (COLlive).

4. After the very longest interruption (לאחרי הפסק הכי ארוך): On 4 Menachem Av 5717 the Rebbe thanked him for writing of his activities, "and surely you will continue this good practice of yours" (letter 5626); and on 23 Menachem Av he already wrote: "I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 15 Menachem Av, after the long interruption" (letter 5669). After this letter the Rebbe acknowledged a further report from him on 16 Iyar 5719 (below, letter 6864); and in Elul 5720 he remarked again that because he writes things down after some time, important matters are left out, "but one can note the main points and signs on the spot and fill them in at leisure" (vol. 19, letter 7434).

5. An outline of what is being done in the activities of spreading the wellsprings (ר"פ מהנעשה בפעולות דהפצת המעינות): אד"ר = אדר ראשון; ר"פ = ראשי פרקים, "the main points, an outline". Spreading the wellsprings: spreading the wellsprings of the teachings of Chassidus; as the Rebbe wrote to him in Shevat 5717: "your main task in the generation of the footsteps of Mashiach… spreading the wellsprings of the teachings of Chassidus until they reach even outward" (letter 5150).

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

7. "There is no good but Torah" (ואין טוב אלא תורה): Avos 6:3: "and there is no good but Torah, as it is said, 'For I have given you a good teaching; do not forsake My Torah.'" News of spreading the wellsprings is "good news" in the true sense.

8. "There is no joy like the resolving of doubts" (ואין שמחה כהתרת הספיקות): Metzudas David on Mishlei 15:30 ("The light of the eyes gladdens the heart"): "Enlightening the eyes in a doubtful matter gladdens the heart, for there is no joy in the world like the resolving of doubts."

9. Are they active in spreading the wellsprings, etc. – and it is easy to understand (האם פועלים בהפצת המעינות וכו' וק"ל): וק"ל = וקל להבין. When no letters come, the Rebbe is left in doubt whether they are indeed active in spreading the wellsprings; a timely report would resolve that doubt, and so would bring both "good" and "joy".

10. Details are forgotten (נשכחים פרטים): ע"ז = על זה. When one writes after a long time, details are forgotten, and sometimes whole matters.

11. But only (כ"א): כ"א = כי אם, "but only".

12. The rest of Anash (שאר אנ"ש): אנ"ש = אנשי שלומנו, "our fellow Chassidim"; ג"כ = גם כן, "also".

13. Joining redemption to redemption (ומסמך גאולה לגאולה): After Megillah 6b: in a leap year Purim is kept in the second Adar, for "joining redemption to redemption is preferable", and Rashi: "Purim to Pesach".

14. "In Nissan they were redeemed, and in Nissan they are destined to be redeemed" (בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידים להגאל): After Rosh Hashanah 11a: "R. Yehoshua says… in Nissan they were redeemed, in Nissan they are destined to be redeemed."

15. Mazal tov… to Torah, chuppah and good deeds (מז"ט... לתחומע"ט): מז"ט = מזל טוב; שתליט"א = שתחי' לאורך ימים טובים אמן, "may she live for long and good days, amen"; שז"ע = שזה עתה, "just now"; כיו"ח = כל יוצאי חלציו, "all his offspring"; לתחומע"ט = לתורה לחופה ולמעשים טובים, after Shabbos 137b: "just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, chuppah and good deeds."

Summary

The Rebbe writes to his relative in Jerusalem, who reports on the spreading of Chassidus there, that the long gaps between his letters are surprising: good news is Torah, and no joy equals the resolving of doubts, while delay lets details and even whole matters be forgotten. He asks for frequent, detailed reports from him and from other Chassidim, links Adar II to the redemption of Nissan, and congratulates him on the birth of a daughter.