6834 —כיבוד אם והשתתפות הבנות בהתוועדות אחרון של פסח – שגם האם תהיה נוכחת

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

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter of Monday^[2], with its enclosure.

As to what you write^[3] about your daughters, may they live, and the reason they were not present at the farbrengen of Acharon shel Pesach – that on the face of it the reason is very valid, for it is^[4] one of the Ten Commandments, honoring a mother^[5]: but taking into account that what is spoken of is the farbrengen of Acharon shel Pesach, the meal of King Mashiach^[6] and the beginning of a healthy and joyous summer^[7], matters should have been arranged so that the command stated in the Ten Commandments would be fulfilled and they would also be present at the farbrengen. And the way to do this is very simple: by their mother, may she live, also being present at the farbrengen; especially as the reason stated for the daughters to be present holds in full force for the mother, may she live, as well, and perhaps even more; and this is easily understood^[8]. And though our Sages said that one does not cry out over the past^[9], these lines have been written since there will surely be a question of this kind in the future too; and this is easily understood…^[10]

With blessings for success and for good news^[11] in all the above.

Notes

1. First day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar (אדר"ח אייר): אדר"ח = א' דראש חודש: 30 Nissan, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Friday, 8 May 1959.

2. Monday (יום השני): That is, the second day of the week.

3. As to what you write… may they live (ובמ"ש... תחיינה): ובמ"ש = ובמה שכתב; תחיינה, "may they live [long]".

4. For it is (וה"ה): וה"ה = והרי היא.

5. Honoring a mother (כבוד אם): After the verse (Exodus 20:12): "Honor your father and your mother." The reason they did not come was honoring their mother.

6. The meal of King Mashiach (סעודתא דמלכא משיחא): Aramaic, "the meal of the King Mashiach". See Hayom Yom, 22 Nissan: "The Baal Shem Tov used to eat three meals on Acharon shel Pesach. The meal of Acharon shel Pesach was called, by the Baal Shem Tov, 'Mashiach's meal'. Acharon shel Pesach is Mashiach's meal, because on Acharon shel Pesach the revelation of the light of Mashiach shines."

7. The beginning of a healthy and joyous summer (התחלה לקיץ בריא ושמח): In the words with which the Rebbe closes his Pesach letters: "With blessings for a kosher and joyous Pesach, in true abundance, and for a healthy and joyous summer" (see above, letter 6786). Acharon shel Pesach, the close of the festival, is also the start of the summer.

8. And this is easily understood (וק"ל): עי"ז = על ידי זה, "by"; ג"כ = גם כן, "also"; וק"ל = וקל להבין. The reason the daughters should be present at the farbrengen – Mashiach's meal and the beginning of a healthy and joyous summer – applies to the mother as well, perhaps even more. The solution was therefore simple: the mother too should have come; then honoring their mother would be fulfilled and the daughters would be present at the farbrengen.

9. One does not cry out over the past (אין צועקין על העבר): After the Mishnah (Berachos 54a): "One who cries out over what is past – this is a vain prayer." The Rebbe writes similarly in vol. 13, letter 4487: "Although one does not cry out over the past, I am writing this since matters of this kind certainly come up from time to time." There is no use in complaints over what has passed; the lines were written only as guidance for the future.

10. … (...): Part of the letter was omitted here in the print.

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

Summary

A father explained that his daughters missed the Acharon shel Pesach farbrengen to honor their mother. The Rebbe answers that since that farbrengen is Mashiach's meal and the start of a healthy and joyous summer, it should have been arranged that both be fulfilled – simply by the mother attending as well, since the reason applies to her even more; and though one does not cry over the past, he writes for the future.