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No. 451
This letter was addressed to R. Meir Greenberg, at that time, the Rav of Worchester, Mass.B"H, 18 Shvat, 5709Greetings and blessings,
Your letter of the 15th of Shvat, together with the $10 check from Mr. Chayim Yosef to assist the refugees, was received with gratitude. Notification of our receipt for the donor is enclosed.
It is amazing that despite all of our discussions regarding the actual work on behalf of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel in your community, we have yet to see actual results. It is not understandable why you in your position as Chief Rabbi of the Federated Congregations of Worcester and a faithful friend of our association have not done [more] and taken an active participatory role in our efforts — for example, by arranging appeals in your congregations and the like. Must we knock on the gates of your heart every day?
It is likewise amazing that since he moved, we have not heard from your brother, R. Yitzchak, who in his previous location acted and worked on behalf of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel. Therefore I am asking you to motivate your brother and encourage him to renew his partnership in our work with additional energy. [Needless to say, it should be unnecessary] to motivate a person such as yourself.
We are expecting substantial activity in the near future, and the tremendous [financial] stress that exists in directing the vast plan of activities called for by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, defies description.
With regard to the weekly Torah reading: Commenting on the verse:[244] “If you will lend money...,” Chassidus explains that this refers to the descent of the soul into the body — see the maamar entitled Taamah (printed in the enclosed kuntreis) — which can be described by two analogies, a loan and an entrusted object, which apply simultaneously.[245] Sometimes, in Chassidus (the second maamar entitled VeSamti Kadkod in Likkutei Torah), the primary emphasis is placed on the lender, and in other instances (the maamar entitled Taamah) the opposite point is emphasized.
It is possible to explain that there is no contradiction between them. The difference is whether one is in the initial stages of Divine service or in the middle. In particular, this applies to those on higher levels [of Divine service]. Regardless, the entire debate whether there is an advantage to the portion of the borrower over that of the lender comes as a result of the fact that he labors with the money that is entrusted [to him]. For these [efforts], he receives two-thirds of the profit. As explained in another source,[246] this relates to [our Sages’ statement] (Vayikra Rabbah, Parshas Kedoshim) that the Holy One, blessed be He, took one crown for Himself and gave two to His children. From this we can appreciate the great value of the efforts that man invests.[247] And similarly, we appreciate the great loss suffered when effort is not invested. Based on the principle that an arousal from Above is dependent on an arousal from below, everyone must perform acts of kindness with his body even though the money that comes as a result of his effort belongs to others. To a person such as yourself, these brief remarks should be sufficient. The main point is that they should lead to action and be expressed in deed.
Waiting to hear good tidings and extending wishes for everlasting good in all matters,
Rabbi Menachem SchneersonChairman of the Executive Committee
Notes:
- (Back to text) [Shmos 22:24.]
- (Back to text) [In Jewish law, there is a concept of a heter iska where a person entrusts money to a colleague to invest on his behalf. A portion of the money is considered a loan and the profits from it belong to the borrower/manager, and the other portion is considered an investment and the profits from it belong to the lender/investor. Thus, in effect, he is lending money to a colleague and receiving interest.]
- (Back to text) The maamar entitled Im Kessef Talveh by the Tzemach Tzedek [later printed in Or HaTorah, Parshas Mishpatim, 1170; Parshas Shmos, Vol. VIII, p. 3030] which is now being printed.
- (Back to text) [I.e., the Rebbe is implying that the relationship between G-d and man resembles that of an investor (G-d) and the manager of the investment (man).]
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