6796 —העברת אח שנפטר מבית החולים בליון לארץ הקודש, והפצת היהדות כחובת גברא

B"H, 4 Nissan, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of 26 Adar II^[1], with your question about moving your late brother from the hospital in Lyon to the Holy Land, may it be built and established^[2].

In general, halachic rulings are not my province; all the more so since you are in a city full of rabbis who are halachic authorities in Israel^[3].

Nevertheless, so as not to delay the matter, I am also writing my opinion^[4]: that it is right and also desirable, for the same reasons you write in your letter, and more. But in keeping with what was said above, you should also ask the opinion of a rav who is a halachic authority in your area; he will surely also say the same, since the matter is stated explicitly in the halachic authorities^[5].

Understandably, I am surprised that you do not mention anything about your holy activities in spreading Judaism and strengthening it, especially in our time, when this is a personal obligation and the duty of the hour^[6]. May it be G‑d's will that the lack be only in the writing, but not in actual deed.

I also hope that you keep the three well-known daily portions of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya^[7].

With blessings for good news^[8] and joyous occasions, and for a kosher and joyous Pesach.

Notes

1. 26 Adar II (כ"ו אד"ש): כ"ו אד"ש = כ"ו אדר שני (5719 was a leap year): Sunday, 5 April 1959. This letter was written on Sunday, 4 Nissan, 12 April.

2. Moving your late brother from the hospital in Lyon to the Holy Land (העברת אחיו ע"ה מביה"ח אשר בליאן, לאה"ק ת"ו): ע"ה = עליו השלום, "peace be upon him"; ביה"ח = בית החולים, "the hospital"; ליאן = Lyon, France; לאה"ק ת"ו = לארץ הקודש תבנה ותכונן. The brother had passed away in the hospital in Lyon, and the recipient asked whether to move his body to the Holy Land (for burial there).

3. Halachic rulings are not my province (אין עניני פסקי דינים): In general the Rebbe did not answer questions of halachic ruling, especially when the questioner lived in a city with rabbis who are halachic authorities, to whom he should turn.

4. Nevertheless... my opinion (בכ"ז... חוו"ד): בכ"ז = בכל זאת; חוו"ד = חוות דעתי.

5. Stated explicitly in the halachic authorities (מפורש הדבר בפוסקים): Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 363:1, on moving the dead: אין מפנין המת והעצמות... וכן כדי לקברו בארץ ישראל מותר, "One may not move a dead body or bones... and likewise, in order to bury him in Eretz Yisrael, it is permitted."

6. A personal obligation and the duty of the hour (חובת גברא... וחובת השעה): חובת גברא, a halachic term: an obligation on the person himself (as opposed to חובת חפצא, an obligation attached to an object). Spreading and strengthening Judaism is every person's own obligation, and also the duty of the hour.

7. The three well-known daily portions of Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya (שלשת השיעורים דחומש תהלים ותניא הידועים): The daily portions in Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya instituted by the Previous Rebbe; as the Rebbe wrote (vol. 14, letter 5164): "the three portions, equal for every soul, instituted by my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of sainted memory, in Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya, which are well known." See also letter 6566 above: "which we heard many times from my father-in-law, the Rebbe... that they are equal for every soul and a segulah for several matters."

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

Summary

Asked whether to move his late brother from the hospital in Lyon to the Holy Land, the recipient is told that the Rebbe does not issue halachic rulings, but so as not to delay, it is right and desirable, as the authorities state, and a local rav should confirm. The Rebbe asks why he wrote nothing of his work in spreading Judaism, and urges the daily Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya.