Rabbi Shlomo Matusof (1917–2007) was born in Vitebsk and educated in Chabad's secret underground yeshivos in Soviet Russia. After the Second World War he was among the Chabad chassidim who escaped the Soviet Union, and he spent 1946–47 in the displaced persons camps in Germany, where he kept journals of chassidic life there (later published by his son as HaYetziah MeRussia). He then lived in Paris.
In 1950, soon after the passing of the Previous Rebbe, he was about to leave for America when the Rebbe asked him to go instead to Morocco and take charge of Chabad's work there; he arrived in early 1951. He is often described as the first shliach the Rebbe sent. Based in Casablanca for close to fifty years, he built — together with Rabbi Michoel Lipsker and others — a network of some 70 Chabad institutions (Oholei Yosef Yitzchak) across Morocco, educating thousands of children. He also formed a close connection with the Baba Sali and his son, and helped build Chabad institutions in Erfoud. He passed away in New York in Cheshvan 5768 (November 2007), during the International Conference of Shluchim, at the age of 91.
The Rebbe's 35 letters to Rabbi Matusof follow the growth of the work in Morocco from its first days. The Rebbe blesses the mission (IK 918) and urges spreading Chassidus without interruption (IK 818). He asks for regular reports on the Casablanca institutions and the Oholei Yosef Yitzchak network, and encourages expansion and seeking every opportunity (IK 1129, 1546, 3861, 4064, 4273, 5563). He guides the educational work: that practical halachah be taught in every class (IK 3083), that students returning home for Pesach be given spiritual material to share (IK 2541), how to influence avrechim and students (IK 3010, 3861), and discipline in the institutions (IK 5667); effort in chinuch always has an effect (IK 2139), and bringing even one Jewish soul closer to its Father in Heaven is a great merit (IK 2267).
Many letters concern books: sending seforim to Morocco, French translations, clarifying Sephardic printings and terms for Sephardic readers, requests for works on Sephardic names and Moroccan authors, and publishing Chassidus in Morocco (IK 1167, 1598, 2273, 3123, 3355, 7972). The Rebbe encouraged sharing chassidic books with local rabbis (IK 3165) and printing words of inspiration in local newspapers, while avoiding involvement with newspaper writers (IK 2365, 2289). Other letters discuss naming the institutions and cooperation (IK 1250), the conditions for a proper visit to the Rebbe (IK 2686), the Vitebsk book project (IK 2640), and miracles in Casablanca (IK 7238).
See also: Jewish outreach – Spreading Chassidus; Education – Running a school; Lipsker, Michael; Oholei Yosef Yitzchak.