7880 —סידור אמירת קדיש ולימוד משניות לאחר הפטירה, וערך המעשים בחיים

B"H, 22 Iyar, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Through Haraha"ch vavach"ch iy"a one who is involved in communal needs with faith etc. etc. Moreinu HaRav Shlomo Zalman Hecht

I received your question, that you wish to arrange that after one hundred and twenty years you will be assured of Kaddish being recited and Mishnayos being learned.

If this is your desire, it is possible to arrange that after one hundred and twenty years Kaddish will be recited and Mishnayos learned in Eretz HaKodesh (I do not know the exact price, but it is about 300–400 Israeli shekels).

However, regarding the main point: It is known the saying of my father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal: it is preferable to do things with living matters during life. Therefore my suggestion is that you should merit long and good years filled with Torah and mitzvos with peace of mind and body, and take upon yourself to print a book from the talks of my father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal. At the beginning of the book your name and your wife's name should be printed; every time someone studies from this book, you and your wife will have a share in his learning. The merit of the many depends on you to lengthen your days and years pleasantly.

Enclosed is the booklet published for Lag BaOmer; surely you will study it and delve into its sayings.

With blessings for long and good years for you and your wife in tranquility and abundance.

From a copy by the Secretariat.

It is known the saying: see Igros Kodesh Admor Mohariyatz vol. 8 letter 252.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that while arranging posthumous merits like Kaddish has value, even greater merit comes from positive actions taken during one's lifetime—especially those that benefit others—such as publishing Torah works for communal learning.