6775 —החוזה לבית ליובאוויטש בלונדון: התחלה להרחבה, וקירוב כל ישראל כי החסידות שייכת לכולם

B"H, 17 Adar II^[1], 5719
Brooklyn.

The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, a man of fine character and of many deeds^[2], Reb Shlomo, may he live long^[3]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter of Rosh Chodesh Adar II with the enclosure; and surely in the meantime my letter to you, written before I received the above, has arrived.

May G‑d, blessed be He, help that the closing of the contract for Beis Lubavitch in London, England, be a good beginning for the expansion of all the affairs of Lubavitch, the spiritual matters and the material matters, and in all details – in a manner fitting the will of our Rebbeim, our leaders, of sainted memory^[4]; and that it be done with true expansiveness, expansiveness in the general matters and in the particular matters of all who take part in it,

– the above-mentioned expansiveness including within itself drawing in as many more good friends as possible, friends and ordinary Jews, to these matters. As is known the saying of our Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, that Chassidus is not a matter only for a particular group, or only for a part of the Jews; it pertains to all Jews, without exception^[5]. From this it is understood that ultimately it will reach and come to all Jews. And in the words of the holy letter of the Baal Shem Tov, "your wellsprings shall spread (until they reach also) outward"^[6].

And although in this detail, drawing in friends, it seems that little has yet been done, it is understood that this is no reason not to act on it in the future too, or to act on it only weakly. On the contrary, one must act on it with more energy. And there is room to say that perhaps now it will come more easily than some time ago.

May it be G‑d's will that, as is being spoken of in recent months^[7], and as has already been seen in some matters, it be seen in all the affairs of Anash: the "you shall spread out to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south," up to "an inheritance without bounds"^[8].

With blessings for success and for good news^[9] in detail in all the above, and also in your personal matters,

M. Schneersohn

Publisher's notes

Reb Shlomo (מו"ה שלמה): Perin, London. Further letters to him: above, vol. 17, letter 6242, 6494. Below, 6836, 6922.

Beis Lubavitch (בית ליובאוויטש): see also above, vol. 17, letter 6494. Below, 6836, 6935, 6974.

As is being spoken of (ווי עס ווערט גערעט): see also above, letter 6541, and the references in the notes there.

Notes

1. 17 Adar II (י"ז אד"ש): אד"ש = אדר שני, Adar II.

2. The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored (הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ): הוו"ח = הוותיק וחסיד; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד.

3. Reb Shlomo (מו"ה שלמה שי'): מו"ה = מורנו הרב. Perin, London (publisher's note). R. Shlomo Perin of London, among the leading activists of Beis Lubavitch there. In vol. 17, letter 6494 (23 Elul 5718) the Rebbe rejoiced at his report "that the deposit has already been given on the new building… where all the affairs of Lubavitch will be concentrated", proposed calling it "Lubavitch House", and enclosed his personal participation in the fund. This letter is on the closing of the contract for Beis Lubavitch. What followed: in letter 6836 (3 Iyar 5719) the Rebbe encourages him in the difficulties he described; in letter 6922 (7 Tammuz) he mentions that he had taken on "the responsibility for the expenses of Beis Lubavitch"; in letter 6935 (15 Tammuz), to the administration of the Lubavitch institution in England, the Rebbe acknowledges R. Shlomo Perin's letter "together with the key of the Beis Lubavitch building"; and in letter 6974 (16 Menachem Av), to the management committee of Beis Lubavitch, the Rebbe advises appointing "someone as executive" for its affairs, and names R. Nachman Sudak for the post.

4. Of sainted memory (זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): זצוקללה"ה = זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, "may the memory of the righteous and holy 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".

5. The saying of our Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe (דער ווארט פון רבנו הזקן): The Rebbe quotes it in vol. 8, letter 2455 (5 Adar I 5714): "the saying of our Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, is known, which we heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, that Chassidus is not a matter that pertains to one class among the Jews, but to all the Jews in all their generations"; and in vol. 17, letter 6274 (25 Iyar 5718): "the saying of the Alter Rebbe, founder of the teachings of Chabad Chassidus, is known, that this way is not only for certain circles among our people Israel, but pertains to the entire people".

6. "Your wellsprings shall spread (until they reach also) outward" (יפוצו מעינותיך (עד שיגיעו גם) חוצה): הבעש"ט = the Baal Shem Tov. From Mishlei 5:16: "יפוצו מעינתיך חוצה ברחבות פלגי מים", "your wellsprings shall spread outward, streams of water in the broad places". In the holy letter of the Baal Shem Tov – in the Rebbe's words in vol. 20, letter 7578: "as is known the holy letter of the Baal Shem Tov, the answer of King Mashiach: when your wellsprings spread outward, [Mashiach] comes". The words in parentheses, "until they reach also", are the Rebbe's addition: the wellsprings must reach the very "outside" – all Jews.

7. As is being spoken of in recent months (ווי עס ווערט גערעט אין די לעצטע חדשים): The matter of "Ufaratzta" (see the publisher's note). In the Rebbe's words below, in letter 6836, to him: "as it is the watchword of this year: Ufaratzta, to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south, and up to an inheritance without bounds".

8. "You shall spread out… an inheritance without bounds" (ופרצת ימה וקדמה וצפונה ונגבה ועד לנחלה בלי מצרים): אנ"ש = אנשי שלומנו. "You shall spread out to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south" – Bereishis 28:14. "An inheritance without bounds" – from Shabbos 118a: "כל המענג את השבת, נותנין לו נחלה בלי מצרים", "whoever delights in Shabbos is given an inheritance without bounds"; Rashi there: "בלי מצרים – כלומר אין לה קץ", "without bounds – that is, it has no end".

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

Summary

The Rebbe blesses the closing of the contract for Beis Lubavitch in London as a good beginning for expanding all Lubavitch activity, with true expansiveness that includes drawing in as many friends and ordinary Jews as possible – for, as the Alter Rebbe said, Chassidus belongs to all Jews, and the wellsprings must reach "outward". Little has been done so far in drawing in friends, but that is a reason for more energy, not less; may the "Ufaratzta" spoken of in recent months be seen in all the affairs of Anash.