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Rabbi Rami Friedman is addressed in the Rebbe's correspondence as a respected Torah scholar and chassid, recognized for his engagement with deep concepts in Chassidus and his thoughtful commentary on the Rebbe's discourses.
The letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Rabbi Rami Friedman, dated 17 Sivan 5711 (1951), responds to Friedman's remarks on a passage in the Rebbe's Kuntres Chag HaShavuos 5711. The discussion centers on the spiritual significance of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and the process by which an individual attains this lofty spiritual level in contemporary times.
Rabbi Friedman had referenced the work Avodat Yisrael by the Maggid of Kozhnitz, which explains that the tzaddikim (righteous individuals) elevate the Kohen Gadol and the shaliach tzibbur (prayer leader) through their holiness. The Rebbe respectfully challenges this interpretation, noting that since there is no Kohen Gadol in the present era, and if the reference is to the shaliach tzibbur, the explanation is incomplete.
The Rebbe clarifies that, according to the teachings of his father-in-law, the Rebbe Rashab, all aspects of Divine service—including those associated with the Kohen Gadol—are now understood as forms of inner spiritual work. The Rebbe explains that reaching even a semblance of the Kohen Gadol’s spiritual level is something "the Rebbe makes" possible for the individual. Only after this transformative influence can a person begin to perform the spiritual service akin to that of the Kohen Gadol.
The Rebbe identifies two significant implications: first, that everyone is obligated in the spiritual service of the Kohen Gadol (as discussed in Iggeres HaKodesh and other sources), and second, that one cannot begin this service until aided by the Rebbe to attain the necessary spiritual stature. The tone of the letter is scholarly and respectful, engaging Rabbi Friedman's ideas with depth and seriousness, and concludes with a blessing for a speedy recovery.