Letter Handwritten and Signed by Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn (Wife of the Rashab) of Lubavitch – Av 1923 – ...

Letter Handwritten and Signed by Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn (Wife of the Rashab) of Lubavitch – Av 1923 – Addressed to R. Azriel Zelig Slonim, Several Months After His Wedding

Letter (approx. 7 lines) handwritten and signed by Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneershon, wife of Rebbe Rashab of Lubavitch. Monday, Parashat Ekev [presumably Av 1923]. Yiddish.

Addressed to her relative R. Azriel Zelig Slonim, presumably following his wedding on 10th Nissan 1923, while he was planning of opening a soft-drink plant in Jerusalem for his livelihood (R. Azriel Zelig abandoned this plan following a letter from the Rayatz on 18th Tevet 1924, in which the latter encouraged him to travel throughout the world to disseminate Judaism and bring our distant brethren close to Chassidut. See item 25).
In her letter, the Rebbetzin writes: "…I am very happy that you have started learning the job", and blesses him: "May G-d grant you success in it, so that you may provide for yourself and your family, in serenity and tranquility when you come the Holy Land". She concludes her letter: "Be healthy, your relative who seeks your wellbeing wholeheartedly always".

Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneersohn, wife of Rebbe Rashab and mother of Rebbe Rayatz. Born in 1860 to Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak of Ovruch, son of the Tzemach Tzedek. Her mother was the daughter of R. Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasy, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe. In 1965, her betrothal to the Rashab was celebrated in the home of the grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek (the groom and bride were both five years old); the couple were wed ten years later, in 1875. She stood beside her husband and assisted him in all communal matters. She was very active on behalf of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva, and established an international women's organization in support of the students of the boys' schools of Lubavitch. In 1940, she escaped occupied Warsaw for the United States together with her only son Rebbe Rayatz. She passed away on 13th Shevat 1942, and was buried in New York. The Beit Sarah network of girls' schools was named after her.

R. Azriel Zelig Slonim (1897-1971), a leading Chabad activist, member of Agudas Chassidei Chabad and director of Kollel Chabad. He was the founder of Irgun N'shei UBnos Chabad and the Beit Chanah institution, and helped establish Shikun Chabad in Jerusalem.
R. Azriel Zelig Slonim was born in Hebron to R. Ze'ev Dov, grandson of Rebbetzin Menuchah Rachel Slonim, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch. He was orphaned at a young age of his father, and at the age of 15, in 1913, he travelled to study in the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch. R. Azriel Zelig was a household member of Rebbe Rashab, and ate at his table on Shabbat and festivals. In 1918, following the civil war, he went to study in the Kherson branch of Tomchei Temimim, in Ukraine. In Kherson, he drew close to the renowned Chassid Reb Itche der Masmid and with his encouragement, began going round the Jewish colonies in the Kherson district, giving classes on Chassidut. Amongst others, he was active in the Nahar Tov colony (Nagartav, Bereznegovatoye County), R. Itche's town. He would travel from time to time for the festivals to the Rashab in Rostov, and after the latter's passing, he continued travelling to his son and successor, the Rayatz. After Pesach 1922, he returned to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem. He was appointed mashpia in the Tzemach Tzedek synagogue in the Old City, and married Mrs. Chaya Feigel (daughter of his sister Sheinah Mushka and her husband R. Moshe Shlomo Kahana Shapira, descendant of the Megaleh Amukot). In 1924, with the encouragement and instructions of the Rayatz (see item 25), he began serving as emissary and travelled throughout the world. During this mission, he raised funds, disseminated Judaism and Chassidut, and worked in outreach. He reached the most far-flung communities, and worked on establishing Mikvaot, appointing rabbis and shochetim and setting up classes on Torah and Chassidut. In 1924, he took part in founding Agudas Chassidei Chabad in America and Canada. At the end of one of his missions, the Rayatz commented: "Zelig is capable of making things happen". Upon concluding his mission in Australia in 1940, R. Azriel Zelig returned to Jerusalem and devoted himself to Chabad communities in Eretz Israel. He was the trustee of Chabad property in Eretz Israel, and maintained continuous correspondence with Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah wife of the Rashab and Rebbetzin Nechama Dina wife of the Rayatz. He passed away on Chol HaMoed Sukkot and was buried on Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem. Many of his descendants serve as Chabad Shlichim and rabbis in communities throughout the world.

This letter was presumably never published.
[1] leaf. 22X15.5 cm. Good condition. Filing holes. Folding marks and creases. Tears to margins and folding marks (not affecting text). Stains and wear.