6830 —זכות הצדקה וההוספה בתורה ומצוות להטבת הבריאות

[28 Nissan 5719]

After the longest interval, your letter was received, [with] a pidyon nefesh^[1] for … shlita.

At an auspicious time he will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of saintly memory, whose soul is in the hidden treasuries on High, may his merit protect us^[2], for whatever he needs, in keeping with the content of your letter.

May it be [G‑d's] will that the merit of the tzedakah (the receipt for which you will find enclosed herewith)^[3] and the merit of his increase in matters of Torah and mitzvos in general stand him in good stead for the improvement of the state of his health, and for whatever he and the members of his household, may they live^[4], need in general.

May it be [G‑d's] will that in all the matters you write about you continue with good news^[5], regarding the public and especially regarding yourself – good for Heaven and good for people^[6].

Publisher's notes

Printed in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 24, p. 434.

Notes

1. A pidyon nefesh for … shlita (פ"נ עבור... שליט"א): פ"נ = פדיון נפש, a written request for blessing (literally, "redemption of the soul"); שליט"א = שיחי' לאורך ימים טובים אמן, "may he live long and good days, Amen". The writer sent a pidyon nefesh on behalf of a person who bears the title shlita; his name is omitted in the print (replaced by dots).

2. My father-in-law, the Rebbe… (כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): 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".

3. The receipt for which you will find enclosed (שימצא בזה הקבלה): The writer sent a sum for tzedakah with the pidyon nefesh; the receipt for it is enclosed with this letter.

4. The members of his household, may they live (ב"ב שי'): ב"ב שי' = בני ביתו שיחיו.

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

6. Good for Heaven and good for people (טוב לשמים וטוב לבריות): After the Gemara (Kiddushin 40a): "'Say of the righteous man that he is good, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds' (Isaiah 3:10). Is there then a righteous man who is good and a righteous man who is not good? Rather, one who is good to Heaven and to people – he is a righteous man who is good." That is: may the matters he writes about, both public and personal, be good to Heaven and good to people.

Summary

Acknowledging, after a very long interval, a pidyon nefesh sent on behalf of a person whose name is omitted in the print, the Rebbe promises to mention him at the Previous Rebbe's resting place and blesses that the merit of the enclosed tzedakah and of an increase in Torah and mitzvos bring about an improvement in his health, and that the writer continue to report good news.