Shiurim in this topic
Chaim Yaakov Gass was a Jewish community member residing in Greensboro, North Carolina, who maintained a connection with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as evidenced by their correspondence in 1951.
The Rebbe addressed Chaim Yaakov Gass with warm greetings and blessings, expressing pleasure upon receiving regards from him through their mutual acquaintance, Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu Axelrod. The Rebbe acknowledged the receipt of maamad (support funds) from Mr. Gass, emphasizing that his participation was not limited to financial support but reflected a deep, heartfelt connection and reverence for the legacy and work of the Rebbe’s father-in-law, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The Rebbe highlighted the ongoing spiritual presence and influence of the Previous Rebbe, citing the teaching from the Zohar that a righteous person, even after passing, is found in all worlds more than during his lifetime. He assured Mr. Gass that those who assist in the Previous Rebbe’s work continue to receive his blessings and arousal of mercy, each according to their needs.
Additionally, the Rebbe sent Mr. Gass a transcript of a talk delivered to yeshivah students who were dedicating their vacation to strengthening Judaism across the country. The Rebbe encouraged Mr. Gass to draw inspiration from this message and to use its ideas to positively influence his acquaintances, bringing them closer to Torah, mitzvos, and particularly to the customs and ways of Chassidus.
The correspondence is characterized by warmth, encouragement, and a sense of partnership in the mission of spreading Torah and Judaism. The Rebbe’s tone is both personal and uplifting, blessing Chaim Yaakov Gass with long, healthy years filled with the light of Torah and mitzvos, and expressing confidence in his continued involvement and influence within his community.