Letter Handwritten by the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Written on the Margins of a Public-Private Letter for Shavuot – Sivan ...

Letter Handwritten by the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Written on the Margins of a Public-Private Letter for Shavuot – Sivan 1951 – Shortly After His Appointment as Rebbe

Two letters (on one leaf) from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Complete letter (10 lines) handwritten and signed by the Rebbe; written on the upper margins of a public-private letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals) for Shavuot. Brooklyn, New York, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan 1951.

The letter is handwritten and typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with the Rebbe's signature (twice): "M. Schneerson". Sent approximately three months after the Rebbe took on the mantle of Chabad leadership (10th Shevat 1951), addressed to the shochet R. Avraham Sender Nemtzov.

The upper letter, handwritten in full by the Rebbe, offers a deep Chassidic and kabbalistic explanation of the passage of the Passover Haggadah dealing with Lavan the Aramean. The Rebbe references various midrashic and kabbalistic books, and the Chassidic homily of the Rebbe Maharash in 1878. The Rebbe concludes: "With a Chag Sameach blessing for the day after the Shabbat, in accordance with its intention as well as its literal meaning [the count to Shavuot begins "the day after the Shabbat", meaning the first day of Pesach; in 1951 that day coincided with the literal Shabbat], M.Schneerson".

In the public-private letter printed later on the page, the Rebbe explains the meaning of Shavuot, and adds blessing and guidance: "…It is known that during the festivals and holidays each year, the matters relevant to them awaken… And these days, the time of the giving of our Torah, are days of Segulah for the people that is a Segulah to receive the Segulah which is the Torah joyfully and internally… Each and every one of us must now do as much as we can to educate boys and girls in accordance with the Torah way… And all Jews are guarantors for one another… to influence… the education of Jewish boys and girls in his environment… to forcefully protest and fight every act or matter that is liable to disconnect them… from this education, that is liable to distance them from the Torah of the living G-d… With a blessing to receive the Torah joyfully and internally".

On the margins of the leaf are references and sources for topics and ideas cited in the letter.

This public-private letter was printed in the Rebbe's Igrot Kodesh (IV, 1029); the added letter handwritten by the Rebbe was not printed in Igrot Kodesh but was published in Olam Chesed Yibaneh, by R. Y. D. Rosenberg (X, Netanya 2018, p. 200).

[1] leaf, official stationery. 28 cm. Good condition. Folding marks. Rust stain to margin.