6821 —קניית בית מרקחת: בירור השגת גבול, בדיקת תפילין ומזוזות וצדקה לפני הדלקת הנרות

B"H, 23 Nissan^[1], 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

We acknowledge receipt of your letter of Erev Shabbos Kodesh, with a request for a blessing, a pidyon nefesh^[2].

At an auspicious time it will be read at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of sainted memory^[3].

It is understood that every addition in matters of Torah and mitzvos [and however good the situation may be in this respect, in matters of goodness and holiness there is always room to add more] brings an addition in the blessings of G‑d, blessed be He^[4], in whatever a person and his household need.

As to what you write, that it seems to you that since you bought the pharmacy, unusual occurrences have been befalling you:

It should be clarified whether this purchase did not involve encroachment on another's livelihood^[5] or the like. If there is a doubt about it – and after all, "a person is a relative of himself"^[6] – it is understood that one should clarify with a rav who is a halachic authority what the Torah's view is on this.

May G‑d, blessed be He, Who watches over each and every one^[7] with individual Divine Providence, lead you on the good path before you, materially and spiritually alike.

It would be proper to have his tefillin checked, and likewise the mezuzos in your home, to make sure that they are all kosher according to the law; and she should keep the good custom of the virtuous daughters of Israel to set aside money for tzedakah before lighting the candles every Erev Shabbos and Erev Yom Tov.

With blessing for good news^[8] in all the above,

In the name of the Rebbe shlita^[9]

Secretary

Notes

1. 23 Nissan (כ"ג ניסן): 23 Nissan 5719 was a Friday, Erev Shabbos Kodesh.

2. Erev Shabbos Kodesh… pidyon nefesh (מעש"ק... פ"נ): מעש"ק = מערב שבת קודש, "of Erev Shabbos Kodesh"; פ"נ = פדיון נפש, a note with a request for a blessing, which is read at the Ohel.

3. The holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe (הציון הק' של כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): הק' = הקדוש, "holy". כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר = כבוד קדושת מורי וחמי אדונינו מורנו ורבנו, the Previous Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn; זצוקללה"ה = זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, "may the memory of the righteous and holy one be for a blessing, for the life of the World to Come"; נבג"מ = נשמתו בגנזי מרומים, "his soul is in the hidden treasuries on High"; זי"ע = זכותו יגן עלינו, "may his merit protect us".

4. G‑d, blessed be He (השי"ת): השי"ת = השם יתברך. בהמצטרך = "in whatever is needed".

5. Encroachment on another's livelihood (השגת גבול): Hasagas gevul: harming another's livelihood, e.g. opening a business right next to another's. See Bava Basra 21b: אמר רב הונא: האי בר מבואה דאוקי ריחיא ואתא בר מבואה חבריה וקמוקי גביה, דינא הוא דמעכב עילויה. דא"ל: 'קא פסקת ליה לחיותי', "Rav Huna said: If a resident of an alley set up a mill, and another resident of the alley came and set up one beside it, the law is that the first may stop him, for he can say to him: 'You are cutting off my livelihood.'" If the purchase of the pharmacy harmed someone else's livelihood, this may be the cause of the occurrences, so the matter should be clarified.

6. A person is a relative of himself (אדם קרוב אצל עצמו): After Sanhedrin 9b: אדם קרוב אצל עצמו, ואין אדם משים עצמו רשע, "A person is a relative of himself, and no one can declare himself wicked." There it is a law of testimony: just as a relative may not testify, a person is not believed about himself. Here: one who is personally involved cannot decide the matter for himself, so he must ask a rav who is a halachic authority.

7. Each and every one (כאו"א): כאו"א = כל אחד ואחד.

8. Good news (לבשו"ט): לבשו"ט = לבשורות טובות.

9. The Rebbe shlita (כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א): "Our holy master, teacher and Rebbe, may he live long and good days, amen." The letter was written by the secretary in the Rebbe's name.

Summary

Through his secretary the Rebbe answers a couple who feel that unusual things have befallen them since they bought a pharmacy. Their pidyon nefesh will be read at the Previous Rebbe's resting place; they should clarify whether the purchase involved encroachment on another's livelihood, and, since one cannot judge one's own case, ask a rav. He should have his tefillin and their mezuzos checked, and she should give tzedakah before lighting candles every Erev Shabbos and Erev Yom Tov.