Introduction: The Midnight Visit of a President and a Poet
In July 1966, Chaim Gradeโthe Yiddish writer who so vividly memorialized the world of Jewish life and learning in pre-Holocaust Litaโreceived a phone call. Zalman Shazar, the journalist and labor-activist who was now president of Israel, had arrived in New York on his first official visit to the United States, and would soon be heading to Washington to meet his counterpart, President Johnson. But Shazar had something else on his mind. As Grade recalled in a letter penned a few weeks later, โthe [Israeli] consul told me that a constant stream of warnings are coming from Israelโ that President Shazar โshould not visit the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and it is making the President ill, depressed, and agitated.โ1
Grade soon arrived at Shazarโs hotel, together with his wife, Inna Hecker Grade, for a heart to heart. โIf you go,โ Grade told the President, โthere will be a storm outside of you, in Israel. But if you donโt go, thereโll be a storm within your own self, and it will never quiet down!โ
โNow I see two things,โ Shazar excitedly replied, โyou are a poet, and you are a friend!โ
A couple of days later, The New York Times was breathlessly reporting that โMr. Shazar had clearly placed his own deep spiritual attachments ahead of the criticism of some Israeli newspapers when he made an unscheduled midnight visit to Rabbi Menahem M. Schneersohn, head of the Lubavitcher movement in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.โ2
At Shazarโs request, and with Innaโs encouragement, Grade was in the presidential entourage. โI had a lot to do with the report in the Times,โ he confided, โthey specifically seated me with the Times correspondent, so that I could work with him on the way there and on the way back.โ Even โhereโ in America, he went on, โShazarโs trip to the Lubavitcher Rebbe made a greater impression than his meeting with Johnson.โ As for the Rebbe himself, Grade noted, โhe is a very intelligent and very refined person, and he discerns precisely what my issue isโฆโ3
This was not Gradeโs first meeting with the Rebbe, but their shared connection with Shazar was one of the elements that animated their relationship.4
On a deeper level, Grade felt embraced, illuminated, and reignited by the Rebbe in a way that tangibly reengaged him with the Torah culture he so loved, but which he often relegated to the realm of literary construction and cultural imagination.5 As Grade put it in one letter to the Rebbe, he found in him a compelling contrast to โthe Novardok archetypes of my novel, Tsemakh Atlasโ who โcannot have any influence on worldly Jews, because they immediately begin talking to a person about his failures.โ Chassidismโs axiomatic emphasis of goodness and light, he wrote, was embodied by the Rebbeโs radiance of an aspiration that didnโt come at the price of guilt: โIt is in this that your greatness is found, dear Rebbe, and likewise the greatness of Chabad โฆ you can receive each person exactly as he is, and draw him close.โ6
Another important element in the relationship between Grade and the Rebbe was the enthusiasm displayed by Gradeโs wife, Inna, which her husband seems to have found somewhat surprising. โBy the way,โ he wrote to his friend, โshe was the first to say that the President must make the trip [to the Rebbe].โ When Grade mentioned this to Shazar, the President turned to Inna and said, โYou're a smart lady!โ7
In the summer of 1971, Chaim Grade fell ill and was hospitalized. Inna called the Rebbeโs secretariat to relay the news and request his blessing for the writerโs recovery and good health. The Rebbe soon wrote to Grade, expressing โmy hope โฆ that an improvement has occurred in your health, which will only continue to improve to the point that, with Gโdโs help, you will return homeโฆโ Taking a lighter tone, the Rebbe quipped that the โSons and Daughtersโ are โof course awaiting the authorโs sequels.โ8 This was a reference to Gradeโs novel Zin un Tekhter, which was serialized in the Tog-Morgn Zhurnal between 1968 and 1971.9
Upon recovering, Grade wrote a long letter in response, thus beginning what appears to be the most lively period of his correspondence with the Rebbe. Their exchange is fascinating on many levels. Rather than attempting to encapsulate its themes, and significance, in my own words, I have instead elected to translate five representative texts, all dated between 1971 and 1976. The final text is โa letter in the form of a poem,โ an ode written by Grade in tribute to the Rebbe. For readabilityโs sake, in some instances I have broken up paragraphs. But otherwise, the text is unaltered.
1971 - Grade to the Rebbe: A Tanya in the Lodz Ghetto
Source: YIVO, Papers of Chaim Grade and Inna Hecker Grade, RG 1952, Box 94, Folder 2414
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Barryville, Friday the 27th of Elul, Prior to Rosh Hashanah 5732 |
ืึผืืจืขืืืื, ืขืจื ืฉืืช, ืื ืืืื, ืขืจื ืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื, ืชืฉื"ืึผ |
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To his honored holiness, the Rebbe, our master, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Lubavitch, may he live for good and long days! |
ืื"ืง ืืืืื"ืจ ืืจื ืจืึผื ืื ืื ืืขื ืื ืฉื ืืืืจืกืืื ืฉืืื"ื ืืืืืืืืืืืฉ |
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The letter with the blessings of his honored holiness, which was brought to me in the hospital by my wife, was a wellspring of great emotion for me. But it was the kind of emotional experience that calms the irritated cardiac patient, and which fortifies him in his health. |
ืืขืจ ืึผืจืืื ืืื ืื ืืจืืืช ืคืื ื"ืง, ืืืืก ืืืื ืคืจืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืขืืจืืื ืืื ืฉืคึผืืืื, ืืื ืคืืจ ืืืจ ืืขืืืขื ื ืงืืืื ืคืื ืืจืืืก ืืืืขืจืืขืืื ื. ืืืขืจ ืืื ืืืึผืขืจืืขืึผืื ื ืืืืก ืึผืืจืืืืงื ืืขื ืืืืคืืขืจืขืืื ืืืจืฅ-ืืืืื ืืืงื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืจืงื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืืื ื |
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Slowly, Iโm starting to respond to letters. But when it came to you in particular, dear Rebbe, I set aside my answer until now, the eve of Shabbos and the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when I read your wonderful โmessageโ to the Jewish people in the newspaper.10 I call it โwonderfulโ because in todayโs message one can see the encapsulation and expression of the most significant elements in the worldview of Chassidic Torah โ and I feel that I can no longer leave my letter to you aside. |
ืึผืืกืืขืืืืืื ื ืขื ืืื ืฉืืื ืขื ืืคืขืจื ืืืืฃ ืึผืจืืื. ื ืืจ ืืืืงื ืฆื ืืืื, ืืืืขืจืขืจ ืจืึผื, ืืืึผ ืืื ืืคึผืืขืืืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืคืขืจ ืึผืื ืืืื ื, ืขืจื ืฉืืช ืืื ืขืจื ืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื, ืืืขื ืืื ืืืึผ ืืื ืฆืืืืื ื ืืขืืืืขื ื ืืืืขืจ ืืืืื ืืขืจืืขืื "ืืขืกืขืืืฉ" ืฆืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื โ ืืื ืืื "ืืืืื ืืขืจืืขืื", ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืืื ืืืงื ืืจืืื ืงืขื ืืขื ืืขื ืฆืื ืืืคืืขืืจืืงื ืืื ืืืืกืืขืืจืืงื ืื ืืืืืืืงืกืืข ืืืืขื ืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืฉืงืคื ืคืื ืชืืจืช ืืืกืืืืช โ ืืื ืืื ืคืื ืื ืืื ืงืขื ืืขืจ ืืืื ืขื ืืคืขืจ ืฆื ืืืื ื ืื ืืคึผ ืืืืื |
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It was, and remains, difficult for me to write to you. Indeed, due to my deep respect for you, I cannot, and must not, present myself as being more religious than I am. In the end, I decided that I will express myself with you entirely as I am. It is in this that your greatness is found, dear Rebbe, and likewise the greatness of Chabad, and it is this that has brought you so much success; because you can receive each person exactly as he is, and draw him close. I know the secret: You draw those who are distant close, but do not bring yourself close to those who are distant. But I also know that this isnโt merely a strategy by means of which to rehabituate those who have become disaffiliated and lost. This is a sincere expression of the most fundamental of Chassidic axioms: namely, the faith that within every Jew the sparks continue to burn, and all one must do is stir them up. In this, those who follow the Chassidic path are unlike those who follow the Mussar path, especially the Novardok archetypes of my novel, Tsemakh Atlas โ you see, I remain as I am! โ who cannot have any influence on worldly Jews, because they immediately begin talking to a person about his failures, rather than about his sparks of holiness. |
ืืืจ ืืื ืืขืืืขื ืืื ืืื ื ืื ืฉืืืขืจ ืืืื ืฆื ืฉืจืืืึผื, ืืืืื ืืจืื ืืืืช ืืืคืขืจ ืืืฆืืืื ื ืฆื ืืืื ืงืขื ืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืืจ ื ืื ืืื ืคืืจืฉืืขืื ืคืืจ ืคืจืืืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืึผืื. ืืกืืฃ ืืืึผ ืืื ืึผืืฉืืืกื ืฆื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืจืืืืืก ืืื ืืื ืืื ืึผืื. ืืื ืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืืืืช, ืจืึผื ืืืืขืจืขืจ, ืืื ืื ืืืืืช ืคืื ืื"ื, ืืืืก ืืื ืืืื ืืขืึผืจืืื ืืืืืคืื ืืืื, ืืืืื ืืืจ ืงืขื ื ืืืืคื ืขืืขื ืืขืื ืืขื ืืฉื ืืื ืืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืงืจื ืืืื. ืืื ืืืืืก ืคืื ืืขื ืกืื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืงืจื, ื ืืจ ืืื ื ืื ืืชืงืจื. ืืึผืขืจ ืืื ืืืืืก ืืืื ืื ืืืก ืืื ืึผืื ืืืื ื ืื ืึผืืืื ืกืืจืืืขืืืข ืืื ืฆืืจืืง ืฆื ืืขืืืื ืขื ืืขื ืืคืืขืคืจืขืืืื ืืื ืคืืจืึผืืื ืืืฉืขืื. ืืืก ืืื ืืื ืืืืฃ ืื ืืืช ืคืื ืื ืืกืื ืืืกืืืืช ืืื ืืกืืืืช: ืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืขืื ืืืื ืึผืจืขื ืขื ืื ื ืืฆืืฆืื ืืื ืืขื ืืืจืฃ ืืื ืึผืืืื ืคืื ืื ืืขืจืึผืืืื; ื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืกืจื ืืงืขืก, ืืคืจื ืื ื ืืืืืจืขืืงืขืจ ืคึผืจืืืืืืคึผื ืคืื ืืืื ืจืืืื ืฆืื ืืืืืก โ ืืขื ืืืจ, ืืื ืึผืืืืึผ ืืื ืืื ืืื ืึผืื! โ ืืืืก ืงืขื ืขื ื ืื ืืืึผื ืงืืื ืืฉืคึผืขื ืืืืฃ ืืืขืืืืขืืข ืืืื, ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืึผื ืืืืื ืื ืคืื ืจืืืื ืฆืื ืืขื ืืฉื ืืืขืื ืืืื ืืขืคืืื ืงืืื, ื ืื ืืืขืื ืืืื ืข ืคืื ืงืขื ืคืื ืงืืืฉื |
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Since I have chosen to write to you, I should pour out to you all that I am thinking, [but] I would take up too much of your time. Nor do I want to pour myself out entirely in a letter. Perhaps I will yet, whenever it might be, write impressions of Lubavitcher chassidim, whether in prose or in poetry. I say, โperhaps,โ and only โimpressions,โ because I donโt know enough Lubavitchers to be able to depict them realistically. I am always jealous of anyone who knows Chabad people well, and who knows Russia well. A depiction of the mesirat nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Chabad in Soviet-Russia could become a world-class epic. |
ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืกืฉืจืืืึผื ืืืฅ ืืืืก ืืื ืืจืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืงืืืืึผ ืืื ืืืื ืฉืจืืืึผื, ืืืืื ืืื [ืืึผืขืจ] ืฆืืืขื ืืืขื ืฆืืคืื ืคืื ืืืืขืจ ืฆืืื. ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืื "ืืืืกืฉืจืืืึผื" ืืื ื ืึผืจืืื. ืืคืฉืจ ืืืขื ืืื ื ืื ืืืขื-ื ืื-ืืื ืฉืจืืืึผื ืืื ืคึผืจืืืข ืฆื ืืื ืคึผืืขืืืข ืืืืคึผืจืขืกืืขืก ืคืื ืืืืึผืืืืืืฉืขืจ. ืืื ืืื "ืืคืฉืจ" ืืื ืึผืืืื "ืืืืคึผืจืขืกืืขืก", ืืืืื ืืื ืงืขื ื ืื ืืขื ืื ืืืืึผืืืืืืฉืขืจ ืืื ืฆื ืฉืืืืขืจื ืจืขืืืืกืืืฉ. ืืื ืึผืื ืฉืืขื ืืืง ืืงื ื ืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืืก ืงืขื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืึผ"ื ืืื ืงืขื ืืื ืจืืกืืื ื. ืฉืืืืขืจื ืืกืืจืช ื ืคืฉ ืคืื ืืึผ"ื ืืื ืกืืืืขืื ืจืืกืืื ื ืืืืื ืืขืงืขื ื ืืืื ื ืืืขืื-ืขืคึผืืคึผืขืข |
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Of all my encounters with Chabad, and with Chabad people, I chose to recount an episode that occurred in 1946, when my wife and I came from Russia to Poland, where we lived in Lodz. At that time I was writing a poem with a chassid as one of the main characters, and I felt that it would be good to refresh my spirit and my memory by perusing a Tanya. โ I was still somewhat familiar with this work from my youth, when I studied under the tutelage of the Chazon Ish; he told me to read Nefesh Hachaim, by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhinโฆ11 โ But in Lodz, after the war, where does one find a Tanya? |
ืคืื ืืืข ืืืื ืข ืืจืขืคืขื ืืฉื ืืื ืืึผ"ื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืื"ื, ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืขืจืืขืื ืื ืขืคึผืืืื ืคืื 1946, ืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืคืจืื ืืืื ืขื ืืขืงืืืขื ืคืื ืจืืกืืื ื ืงืืื ืคึผืืืื ืืื ืคึผืืืื ืืื ืืขืืืืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืฉ. ืืื ืืืึผ ืืขืืืื ืืขืืืืื ืืื ืฉืจืืืึผื ื ืคึผืืขืืข ืืื ื ืืกืื ืคืืจ ืืืื ืขื ืคืื ืื ืืืืคื-ืืขืฉืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืคืืื, ืื ืก'ืืืืื ืืื ืืขืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืคึผืคืจืืฉื ืืืื ืืืืกื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืกืคืจ ืืชื ืื, ืืืืก ืืื ืืืึผ ื ืึผืืกื ืืขืงืขื ื ืื ืขืืจื, ืืืขื ืืื ืืืึผ ื ืื ืืขืืขืจื ื ืึผืืื ืืืื ืืืฉ ืืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืืขืืืืกื ืืืืขื ืขื ืจ' ืืืื ืืืืืืืฉืื ืขืจืก ื ืคืฉ ืืืืื... ืืึผืขืจ ืืืื ืืขืคืื ื ืืขื ืืื ืืืืืฉ ืคืื ื ืื ืืขืจ ืืืืื ื ืชื ืื |
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One day, my wife became angry with me and went off to spend an entire day walking about. In the evening she returned and told me that she had spent hours wandering around Baluty โ the ruined neighborhood of the liquidated Lodz ghetto. There she saw some non-Jewish youths playing football with a Jewish book. She chased them away and brought the volume to me; she wanted to know what book it was. It was the Tanya. It had no covers, but was otherwise complete, and I have it till today. |
ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืคืจืื ืืืืฃ ืืืจ ืื ืืขืึผืจืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืขืง ืืืืฃ ื ืืื ืฆื ืืื ืฉืคึผืืฆืืจื. ืืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืื ืฆืืจืืงืืขืงืืืขื ืืื ืืืจ ืืขืจืฆืืืื, ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืขืื-ืืื ื ืืจืืืืขืฉืคึผืืกืืจื ืืื ืึผืืืื โ ืืขืจ ืืจืืืขืจ ืงืืืืจืืื ืคืื ืืขืจ ืืืืกืืขืฉืืืืขื ืขืจ ืืืืืฉืขืจ ืืขืื ืืื ืืืืืฉ โ ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืขืืขื ืฉืงืฆืืืืขื ืืื ืฉืคึผืืื ืืื ืคืืกืึผืื ืืื ื ืืืืืฉื ืึผืื. ืืื ืื ืืื ืคืื ืื ืืขืจืืขืืจืืื, ืืืจ ืืขืึผืจืืื ืืขื ืกืคืจ ืืื ืืขืืืืื ืืืืกื ืืืืก ืืืก ืืื. ืก'ืืื ืืขืืืขื ืืขืจ ืชื ืื, ืื ืืืืืขืืขื, ื ืืจ ื ืืื ืฆืขืจ, ืืื ืืื ืืืึผ ืืื ื ืื ืึผืื ืืืฆื |
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When my good friend, President Shazar โ may he live for good and long days โ recently visited New York, he received me together with my wife, and I told him this story. The President exclaimed that if I would write it up, the readers would think that I invented it. |
ืึผืขืช ืืืื ืืจืืืกืขืจ ืืืื, ืืขืจ ื ืฉืื ืฉืืจ, ืฉืืื"ื ืืื ืืขืฆืื ืก ืืขืืืขื ืืื ื ืื-ืืืจืง ืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืคืืขื ืืืขื, ืืืึผ ืืื ืืขืจืฆืืืื ืื ืืขืฉื. ืืขืจ ื ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืกืืขืจืืคื, ืื ืืืืึผ ืืื ืืืืื ืขืก ืื ืืขืฉืจืืึผื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืืขื ืขืจ ืืขืืจืืื, ืื ืืื ืืืึผ ืขืก ืืืืกืืขืืจืืื |
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I wanted to tell you this story too, when you received me following my first trip to Israel. But we didnโt get to it then because I wanted to hear more than I wanted to talk. I recount it to you now, dear Rebbe, in order that you will understand why on earth my wife turned to you to request a blessing for me while I was lying in the hospital. Although she hails from Yekaterinoslav, which has a close connection with the Alter Rebbe, she is the daughter of assimilated parents, and she was educated in Soviet schools.12 Yet, by nature, she has a great deal of faith, and she believes that nothing that happens in life is accidental. When Shazar was seriously ill, and I was very pained, she would say to me: โYouโll see, Shazar will return to health and will yet be President in his new home,13 because he has the blessing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.โ |
ืืืื ืืืื ืืืึผ ืืื ืขืก ืืขืืืืื ืืขืจืฆืืืื, ืืืขื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืคืืขื ืืืขื ื ืื ืืืื ืขืจืฉืืข ื ืกืืขื ืืื ืืฉืจืื. ื ืืจ ืก'ืืื ืืขืืืื ื ืื ืืขืงืืืขื ืฆื ืืขื, ืืืืื ืืื ืืืึผ ืืขืืืืื ืืขืจื ืืขืจ ืืื ืจืืืื. ืืืฆื ืืขืจืฆืืื ืืื ืขืก, ืืืืขืจืขืจ ืจืึผื, ืืื ืคืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืคืืจืฉืืขื ืืืขื ืืืืื ืืืื ืคืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืืขื ืื ืฆื ืืืื ื ืื ื ืึผืจืื ืคืืจ ืืืจ, ืึผืขืช ืืื ืืื ืืขืืขืื ืืื ืฉืคึผืืืื. ืืืืฉ ืื ืฉืืืื ืคืื ืืขืงืืืขืจืื ืืกืืืื, ืืืืก ืืื ื ื ืืขื ืืข ืฉืืืืืช ืฆืื ืืืื ืจืึผืื, ืืื ืื ื ืืืืืขืจ ืคืื ืืกืืืืืืจืืข ืขืืืขืจื ืืื ืืื ืืขืจืฆืืืื ืืขืืืืจื ืืื ืกืืืืขืืืฉืข ืฉืืื. ื ืืจ ืื ืืื ืึผืืืข ืืืืขืจ ื ืืืืืึผืืงืข ืืื ืืืืืึผื ืื ืืืฅ ืืืืก ืืจืขืคื ืืื ืืขืึผื ืืื ื ืื ืงืืื ืฆืืคืื. ืืืื ืืืขื ืฉืืจ ืืื ืืขืืืขื ืขืจื ืกื ืงืจืื ืง ืืื ืืื ืืืึผ ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืฆืขืจ ืืขืืืขื, ืคืืขืื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื: ืืืขืกื ืืขื, ืฉืืจ ืืืขื ืืขืืื ื ืืืขืจื ืืื ื ืื ืืืื ื ืฉืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืืื, ืืืืื ืขืจ ืืื ืื ืึผืจืื ืคืื ืืืืึผืืืืืืฉืขืจ ืจืึผืื |
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With great respect and love, your |
ืืื ืืจืืืก ืืจื-ืืจืฅ ืืื ืืืึผืฉืืคื, ืืืืขืจ |
1973 - The Rebbe to Grade: On the Dissolution of Opposition and the New Modernity
Source: Igrot Kodesh, Vol. 28 (Brooklyn, NY: Kehot, 2006), 225-8 [#10,797].
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BโH The Start of Sivan, 5733 |
ืืดื, ืจืืฉ ืืืืฉ ืกืืื, ืืณืชืฉืืณืณื |
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Itโs already been a long while since I have heard from you directly, but I have sought out and received regards from you through mutual friends. In addition, when one wants regards from someone who is gifted with a literary talent, one solution is to take a look at what has most recently been published from his pen. But, of course, this canโt be compared to a direct and personal greeting. |
ืืื ืฉืืื ื ืืขื ืืขืจืข ืฆืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืคืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืขืืขืจื ืืืจืขืงื, ืืืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืขืคืจืขืื ืืื ืืืงืืืขื ืืจืืกื ืืืขืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืขืืืื ืืืืข ืคืจืืื ื. ืืขืจืฆื, ืืฉืขืช ืืณืืืื ืืืื ื ืืจืืก ืคืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืืก ืืื ืืืฉืื ืงืขื ืืขืืืืจื ืืื ื ืืืืขืจืืจืืฉื ืืืืื ื, ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืขืจ ืคืื ืื ืืืขืื ื ืงืืง ืืื ืืืืก ืขืก ืืื ืืขืฆืื ืก ืคืืจืขืคืขื ืืืขืื ืืขืืืืจื ืคืื ืืืื ืคึผืขื. ืืื ืงืืื ืขืก ื ืื ืฆื ื ืืจืืขืงืื ืืื ืคึผืขืจืืขื ืืขืื ืืจืืก |
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Thatโs why I was especially happy that a letter arrived in my secretariat from your wife. This gives me the opportunity to write these lines to you, and also to ask that you transmit my thanks to your wife for the greetings and for creating this opportunity for me. |
ืืขืจืืืขืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืกืคึผืขืฆืืขื ืืขืคืจืืื ืืืืก ืขืก ืืื ืื ืืขืงืืืขื ื ืืจืืื ืคืื ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืื ืืื ืกืขืงืจืขืืืจืืื, ืืืืก ืืื ืืืจ ืื ืืขืืขืื ืืืื ืฆื ืฉืจืืืื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืจืืช ืืื ืืืื ืืขืื ืืืืขืจืืขืื ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืื ื ืืื ืง ืคืืจื ืืจืืก ืืื ืคืืจ ืฉืืคื ืืืจ ืื ืืืืืืข ืืขืืขืื ืืืื |
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I want to begin by taking note of a formulation in your wifeโs letter, and responding to it. I assume you will also share this with your wife, and with additional elaboration if necessary, althoughโso far as I understandโshe doesnโt need any such explanations. I refer to your wifeโs comment that you are โa modern Jew with a misnagdishe-litvishe tradition.โ |
ืืืขื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืขืจืงืื ื ืืืขืื ืื ืืืืกืืจืืง ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืืืณืก ืืจืืื ืืื ืจืขืืืืจื ืืืืฃ ืืขื, ืืื ืืกืชื ืืืขื ืืืจ ืขืก ืืืื ืืืืขืจืืขืื ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืื ืืื ื ืฆืืืื ืืกืืจื ืืืื ื ืืืืื, ืืืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืคืืจืฉืืื ื ืืืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืขื. ืืื ืคืืจืจืืฃ ืืื ืืืืฃ ืืขื ืืืืก ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืื ืฉืจืืืื, ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืดื ืืืืขืจื ืขืจ ืืื ืืื ื ืืชื ืืืืฉึพืืืืืืืฉืขืจ ืืจืืืืฆืืขืด |
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My stance, in this regard, is that the very word โmisnagedโ [which refers to an โopponentโ of Chassidism] has a connotation of negation, a negative stance towards something. Accordingly, when someone sees that they have made a mistake in their assessment, and that phenomenon in question is actually a positive one, no cardinal change must be made. Rather, the oppositionality is inevitably and automatically dissolved. What is required, however, is the self-assurance to announce this openly; that, irrespective of having grown up with an education and in an environment where prejudice reigned against this phenomenon, being that one recognizes the truth, one accepts it. |
ืืืื ืฉืืขืืื ื ืืื ืืขื ืืื, ืื ืืขืจ ืขืฆื ืืืืจื ืดืืชื ืืืด ืืื ืืื ืื ืขื ืื ืคืื ืฉืืืื, ื ื ืขืืืืืืืข ืืืฆืืืื ื ืฆื ืขืคืขืก, ืืืืก ืืขืจืคืื ืืื ืคืืจืฉืืื ืืื, ืื ืืืขื ืืณืืขื ืื ืืณืืื ืืขืืืื ื ืืขืืช ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืจ ื ืคืืืืืืืืข, ืคืืืขืจื ืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืขื ื ืงืืจืืื ืืืขืจ ืฉืื ืื, ื ืืจ ืขืก ืืืขืจื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืืืฉ ืืื ืื ืืชื ืืืืช. ืืืืก ืขืก ืคืืืขืจื ืืื ืื ืืื ืฆื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืจืงืืื ืื ืืื ืืจืืืกืฆืืืืื ืืื ืืืขืื ืืขื ืขืคืขื ืืืขื, ืื ื ืื ืงืืงื ืืื ืืืืฃ ืืขื ืืืืก ืืณืืื ืืืืคืืขืืืืงืกื ืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืื ืกืืืื ืืืื ืขืก ืืื ืืขืืขืจืฉื ื ืคืืจืืืจืืืื ืืืขืื ืืขืจ ืืื, ืืื ืืืขืจ ืื ืืณืืขืจืืขื ืืขื ืืืช, ืืงืฆืขืคึผืืืจื ืืขื ืขืก |
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Based on our encounters at Chassidic farbrengens, based on what I have heard about you, and based on your correspondence and on your literary work, I have no doubt that โ irrespective of the so-called misnagdishe tradition โ the warmth that permeates your writing fully resonates with chassidic feeling. I believe that you feel this yourself too, and even more importantly, that your readers also feel this, perceiving that within your description of a โmisnagedโ you surreptitiously introduce feelings that are produced from Chassidic wellsprings. |
ืคืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืจืขืคื ืืื ืื ืืกืืืืฉืข ืคืืจืืจืขื ืืขื ืืฉื ืืื ืคืื ืืขื ืืืืก ืืื ืืื ืืขืืขืจื ืืืขืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืืื ืืืืขืจ ืงืืจืขืกืคึผืื ืืขื ืฅ, ืืื ืืืืขืจืืจืืฉืข ืืืขืจืง, ืืื ืื ืืืจ ืงืืื ืกืคืง ื ืื, ืื ื ืื ืงืืงื ืืื ืืืืฃ ืืขืจ ืืืืึพืืขืจืืคืขื ืขืจ ืืชื ืืืืฉืขืจ ืืจืืืืฆืืข, ืืื ืืืขืจ ืื ืืืืจืขืืงืืื ืืื ืืืขืืืข ืืืืขืจ ืฉืจืืืื ืืื ืืืจืืืขืืจืื ืืขื ืืื ืคืืืกืื ืืืื ืงืืื ื ืืื ื ืืกืืืืฉื ืืขืคืื. ืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืืืจ ืคืืื ืืืก ืืืืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืืืก ืืื ื ืื ืืขืจ ื ืืืข, ืื ืืืืขืจืข ืืืืขื ืขืจ ืคืืื ืืืก ืืืื, ืืขืขื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืืฉืจืืืืื ื ืคืื ื ืดืืชื ืืืด ืฉืืืืื ืืืจ ืืจืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืขืคืืื ืืืขืืืข ืืืื ืขื ืืขืฉืขืคื ืืขืืืืจื ืคืื ืืกืืืืฉืข ืงืืืืื |
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Similarly, I also take a stance regarding the opening of the above-mentioned formulation โ โmodern Jew.โ Because the concept of a โmodernโ Jew, which was invented by the so-called โenlightenment (haskalah) born from the heavens,โ14 has long since gone out of fashion. On the contrary, the more a contemporary Jew is actually โmodern,โ the more distant he is from the modernism that created a rift between being a Jew in private and a man in public, and which so waged war against the Jew in private, that the โJewโ become subjugated to the โman,โ that is, to the โgentile,โ lehavdil. The contemporary Jew is indeed a proud Jew, who is constantly becoming closer to the old-new Torah โ which, despite having been given some three and a half thousand years ago, remains new and fresh. As our sages said, โeach and every day its precepts shall be like-new in your eyes.โ15 And we witness this especially with Jews who were oppressed by the communist regime for more than fifty years, and who yet remained Jews, coming out from there as Jews. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for those who ascribed themselves to various โisms.โ16 |
ืขื ืืจื ืื ื ืขื ืืื ื ืฉืืขืืื ื ืืืื ืฆืื ืื ืคืื ื ืคืื ืืขื ืืืืื ืืขืจืืื ืื ืืืืกืืจืืง - ืดืืืืขืจื ืขืจ ืืืืด. ืืืืจืื ืืขืจ ืืืืจืืฃ ืดืืืืขืจื ืขืจืด ืืื, ืืืืก ืืื ืืขืฉืืคื ืืขืืืืจื ืืืจื ืืขืจ ืืืื ืืขืจืืคืขื ืขืจ ืดืืฉืืื ืืช ืืฉืืืืด ืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ื ืืจืืืก ืคืื ืืขืจ ืืืืข, ืืื, ืคืืจืงืขืจื, ืืืืก ืืขืจ ืืืืช ืดืืืืขืจืืด ื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ื, ืืืฅ ืืืืืืขืจ ืืื ืขืจ ืคืื ืืขื ืขืจ ืืืืขืจื ืืฉืงืืื ืืืืก ืืื ืืขืฉืืคื ื ืจืืก ืฆืืืืฉื ืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืฆืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืขืืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืืืื ืืืืืื, ืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืืื ืคืื ืืขื ืืืืื ื ืืฉืจืช ืืื ื ืืืฉืืขืคืขืจ ืฆืื ืืขื ืืื, ืืืืขื ืดืืืืด ืืืืืื. ืืขืจ ืืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืงื ื ืฉืืืืฆืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืขืจื ืืืฅ ื ืขืขื ืืขืจ ืฆื ืืขืจ ืืืึพื ืืืขืจ ืชืืจื, ืืืืก ืืืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืขืืขืื ืืขืืืืจื ืืื ืืจืื 3500 ืืืจ ืฆืืจืืง, ืืื ื ืื ื ืื ืืื ืคืจืืฉ, ืืืื ืืขื ืืืืกืืจืืง ืคืื ืืืืื ื ืืดื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืืฉืื. ืืื ืืืก ืืขื ืืขื ืืคืจื ืื ืืืื ืืืขืืืข ืืืื ืขื ืืขืืืขื ืืื ืืขืจืืืืจืคื ืืขื ืงืืืื ืืกืืืฉื ืจืขืืฉืื ืืขืืขืจ ื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืขืืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืจืืืกืืขืงืืืขื ืคืื ืืืจื ืืืื, ืืืืก ืืื ืืืืืขืจ ื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืขืืืข ืืืื ืืื ืืขืืืืื ืื ืคืืจืฉืืืขื ืข ืดืืืืืขืืด |
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We see a similar tendency in the development of science, which has, specifically in modern times, begun to turn in the direction of seeking greater unity in all of nature. This is a complete about turn from a century ago, when science assumed that nature is divided into various separate domains, and so on.17 In addition, it was specifically the modern archaeologists who corroborated the truth of the episodes recounted in the Bible, as opposed to the so-called enlighteners (maskilim) and followers of โJewish Wissenschaft,โ which arose in Germany, the same land that birthed German โculture,โ including Hitler and his heirs, may their names be erased.18 |
ืื ืขื ืขืืืข ืืขื ืืขื ืฅ ืืขื ืืขื ืืืื ืืคืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืคืื ืืขืจ ืืืืกื ืฉืืคื, ืืืืก ืืืงื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืืขืจื ืขืจ ืฆืืื ืืื ืื ืืขื ืืืขื ื ื ืืืข ืืืขื ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืจ ืจืืืืื ื ืคืื ืืืื ืืืฅ ืืขืจ ืืืืืช ืืื ืืขืจ ืืื ืฆืขืจ ืืืขืื, ืคืื ืงื ืคืืจืงืขืจื ืืื ืืื ื 100 ืืืจ ืฆืืจืืง, ืืืขื ืื ืืืืกื ืฉืืคื ืืื ืืขืืืืื, ืื ืื ืืืขืื ืืื ืคืืจืืืืื ืืื ืคืืจืฉืืืขื ืข ืืืืื ืืขืจืข ืืขืืืื ืืืดืื. ืืขืจืฆื ืืื ืืืื ืืืงื ืื ืืืืขืจื ืข ืืจืืขืืืืืืข ืืืฉืืขืืืื ืื ืจืืืืืงืืื ืคืื ืื ืืขืจืฆืืืืื ื ืคืื ืชื ืณืณื, ืื ืืงืขืื ืื ืืืื ืืขืจืืคืขื ืข ืืฉืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืขื ืืขืจ ืคืื ืดืืืืืฉืขืจ ืืืืกื ืฉืืคืืด ืืืืก ืืื ืืจืืืกืืขืืืืงืกื ืคืื ืืืืืฉืืื ื, ืืืก ืืขืืืข ืืื ื ืืืืก ืืื ืืจืืืกืืขืืขืื ืื ืืืืืฉืข ืดืงืืืืืจืด, ืืืื ืืขืฉืืืกื ืืืืืขืจ ืืื ืืืื ืข ืืืจืฉืื ืืดืฉ |
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Presumably, this letter is longer than you expected. I believe, however, that it is probably far too short relative to the issues it encompasses. |
ืืกืชื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืจืืื ืืขื ืืขืจ ืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืขืจืขืื ื. ืืื ืืืื ืืืขืจ, ืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืื ืขืจ ืืืจ ืฆื ืงืืจืฅ ืืขืจื ืฆื ืื ืขื ืื ืื ืคืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื |
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I will conclude with the traditional felicitations extended for many generations in association with the festival of Shavuot, the time of the giving of our Torah, which is coming upon us and upon the entire Jewish nation for good โ that you shall receive the Torah and internalize it with joy, together with your wife, may she live, for long days and good years. With respect and with blessing. |
ืืื ืืืขื ืคืืจืขื ืืืืขื ืืื ืืขื ืืจืืืืฆืืื ืขืื ืืืืื ืฉ ืคืื ืคืื ืืืจืืช ืืื ืฆืืืืืขื ืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืฉืืืขืืช, ืืื ืืชื ืชืืจืชื ื, ืืื ืขืืื ื ืืขื ืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืื โ ืฆื ืืงืื ืืืื ืื ืชืืจื ืืฉืืื ืืืคื ืืืืืช, ืฆืืืืืขื ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืื ืชืืืณ, ืืืืจื ืืืื ืืฉื ืื ืืืืืช |
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N.B. I permit myself to write the following, and the reason it appears on a separate page will be self-understood, and that is: |
ื .ื. ืืื ืขืจืืืื ืืืจ ืฆื ืฉืจืืืื ืืืก ืคืืืื ืืข, ืืื ืขืก ืืื ืืขืืืกืืคืืจืฉืืขื ืืืขื ืคืืจืืืืก ืืืก ืงืืื ืืืืฃ ื ืืืืื ืืขืจืข ืืืืื, ืืื ืืืก ืืื |
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Given your relationship with our mutual friend President Shazar, may he live for good and long days and given the active part you took in facilitating his visit to me, irrespective of those who did not wish to allow it, |
ืืืืกื ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืืฆืืืื ื ืฆื ืืืืื ื ืคืจืขื. ืฉืืดืจ ืฉืืืืดื, ืืื ืืืืกื ืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืขื ืืืขื ืื ืืงืืืืื ืื ืืืื ืฆื ืืืื ืืืืืืขืจ ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืืจ, ื ืื ืงืืงื ืืื ืืืืฃ ืื ืืืขืืืข ืืืื ืืืก ื ืื ืืขืืืขืื ืฆืืืืื |
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I permit myself to suggest that you should reinvigorate your bond with our mutual friend, especially at this moment of deep emotion for him due to the change in his official situation, etc.19 Presumably you will also encourage others who are under your influence to do the same. |
ืขืจืืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืฆื ืืืื ืืขื ืคืืจืฉืืื, ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืคืืจืฉืืืจืงื ืืืืขืจ ืคืืจืืื ื ืืื ืืืืื ื, ืกืคืขืฆืืขื ืืื ืื ืืขื ืคืื ืืืคืขืจ ืืืืขืจืืขืืื ื ืคืืจ ืืื ืืฆื ืืขื ืฉืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืคืืฆืืขืื ืืฆื ืืื'. ืืื ืืกืชื ืืืขื ืืืจ ืืขืืจืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืขืจืข, ืืืขืืืข ืฉืืืืขื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืืขืจ ืืฉืคืขื, ืฆื ืืื ืืืื |
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Since you are intimately familiar with his dispositions you will certainly find the right way, and words that come from the heart enter the heart and are effectively impactful. For you, further elaboration on this is certainly superfluous. |
ืืืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืืื ื ืืขื ื ืืืงืื ื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืคืฉ, ืืืขื ืืืจ ืืืืขืจ ืืขืคืื ืขื ืืขื ืคืืกื ืื ืืืขื ืืืืฃ ืืขื, ืืืืจืื ืืืืฆืืื ืื ืืื ื ืื ืกืื ืื ืืื ืืคืืขืืื ืคืขืืืชื. ืขืก ืืื ืืืืขืจ ื ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืฆื ืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืคืืจ ืืืื |
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For this very reason, this letter is being sent โspecial delivery.โ |
ืืฆื ืื ืืขืจ ื ืงืืื ืืืขืจื ืืขืจ ืืจืืื ืืขืฉืืงื ืดืกืคืขืฉื ืืขืืืืืขืจืืด |
1974 - Grade to the Rebbe: Striving Towards the Light
Source: Authorโs inscription to the Rebbe, in Gradeโs short story collection, Di Kloyz un Di Gas (โThe Synagogue and the Streetโ), as reproduced in an editorial footnote to Igrot Kodesh, Vol. 30 (Brooklyn, NY: Kehot, 2009), 185.
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To his honor, the Rebbe of Lubavitch, may he live for good and long days โ the beloved Rebbe who stands before my eyes too, and who raises up my sparks also, which are wandering about in a haze and striving towards his light. |
ืืืืื ืืืืืืดืจ ืืืืืืืืืืืฉ ืฉืืืืดื, ืืขื ืืืืขืจื ืจืืื ืืืืก ืฉืืืื ืืืื ืคืืจ ืืืื ืข ืืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืืขืื ืืืื ืืืื ืข ื ืืฆืืฆืื, ืืืืก ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืื ื ืขืคื ืืื ืฆืืขื ืืื ืฆื ืืืื ืืืื |
1975 - The Rebbe to Grade: Transplanting Vilnaโs Soul in American Soil
Source: Igrot Kodesh, Vol. 30, 184-5.
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BโH |
ื"ื |
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I was glad to receive regards from you and your wife, may she live. I extend special thanks for your book, Di Kloyz un Di Gas. Notwithstanding the pre-allocation of my time, I immediately began to read, at least the first few stories, and I hope that you will also write with the same love about the Jewish youth of the present generation, especially in New York, who have picked up the golden thread of Jewish continuity. Many of them have done so irrespective of the fact that they cannot expect help from their parents, grandfathers, or grandmothers, as they could in previous generations. In many cases, the help goes in the other direction; children bring Jewish consciousness and even Jewish life itself to their parents, in keeping with the prophecy: The hearts of fathers shall return upon their sons โ [that is,] through their sons.20 |
ืขืก ืืื ืืืจ ืืขืคืจืืื ืฆื ืืืงืืืขื ื ืืจืืก ืคืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืคืจืื ืฉืชืื'. ื ืกืคืขืฆืืขืื ืืืฉืจ-ืื ืคืืจ ืืืืขืจ ืืื "ืื ืงืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืก". ื ืื ืงืืงื ืืื ืืืืฃ ืืขืจ ืืืืกืืขืจืขืื ืืขืจ ืฆืืื, ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืขืืืืื ืืืืขื ืขื, ืืขืื ืคืืืก ืื ืขืจืฉืืข ืืขืจืฆืืืืื ืืขื, ืืื ืืื ืืืฃ, ืื ืืืจ ืืืขื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืขืืืขืจ ืืืืฉืืคื ืืืฉืจืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืืฉืข ืืืื ื ืคืื ืืืฆืืืืขื ืืืจ, ืืคืจื ืืื ื ืื-ืืืจืง, ืืืืก ืืื ืืืืคืืขืืืคื ืืขื ืืืืืขื ืขื ืคืืืขื ืคืื ืืขื ืืืืืฉื ืืืฉื, ื ืื ืงืืงื ืืื ืืืืก ืคืื ืคืื ืืื ืงืขื ืขื ืืื ืืขื ื ืื ืืขืจืืืืจืื ืืืืฃ ืคืื ืืืืขืจืข ืขืืืขืจื, ืืืืืขืก ืืื ืืืืขืก, ืืื ืืื ืคืจืืขืจืืืืข ืืืจืืช. ืืื ืืื ืคืื ืคืืื, ืืืจืื, ืืจืขื ืืขื ืื ืงืื ืืขืจ ืืขื ืืืืืฉื ืืืืืืืกืืืืื ืืื ืืืงืข ืืืืืฉืงืืื ืืืฉ ืฆื ืื ืขืืืขืจื, ืืื ืืืื ืงืืื ื ืืื ืืขืจ ื ืืืื: ืืืฉืื ืื ืืืืช ืขื ืื ืื โ ืขื ืืื ืื ืื |
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If, at any time, strong faith is required to prevent us from falling into hopelessness and the like, heaven forfend, we certainly need to greatly encourage these youngsters, and express, with the greatest vigor, that we lay great hopes upon them. For you, further elaboration of this matter is certainly superfluous. |
ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืข ืฆืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืื ืืขื ืืืืืื ืืื ื ืฉืืืจืงืขื ืืืืื ื ืื ื"ื ืืจืืื ืคืืื ืืื ืืืืฉ ืื"ื, ืืื ืืขื ืืื ืืืฆื ืืืืขืจ ืืขืจืืืืืืขื ืื ืืืืืืข ืืืื ื ืืื ืืจืืืกืืจืขื ืืขื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืื ืฆืขืจ ืฉืืืจืงืืื ืื ื'ืืขืื ืืืืฃ ืืื ืืจืืืกืข ืืืคื ืื ืืขื. ืขืก ืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืืืขืจืื ืืืจืื ืฆื ืืืื ืคืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืขื ืื |
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I must make a point, at least briefly, with regard to the inscription. I thank you for the warm-heartedness that you expressed in your inscription. But at the same time, according to Jewish custom, I immediately want to ask a question: How is it possible that one can still, as you put it, be โwandering about in a hazeโ at the very same time as old Vilna, the true Vilna, remains so alive for you? In addition, as I wrote above, we have complete hope that, through todayโs youth, we will be able to transplant the soul of that bygone place even in American soil, where it will hopefully bloom and grow. It might, however, take on a different superficial shape, and we cannot even be certain about the retention of language. But this, as noted, is ultimately superficial and perhaps even the external dimension of superficiality. |
ืืื ืืื ื ืขืืขื ื ืฉืืขืืื ื, ืืื ืืคืืืช ืืื ืงืืจืฆืข ืืืขืจืืขืจ, ืืื ืฆืืืืืขื ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืืคืฉืจืืคื. ืืื ืืื ืง ืืืื ืคืืจ ืืขืจ ืืืจืฆืืงืืื ืืืืก ืื ืืืืคืฉืจืืคื ืืจืืงื ืืืืก, ืืืขืจ ืืืืืืฆืืืืืง, ืืืื ืืขื ืืืืืฉื ืื ืื, ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืคืจืขืื ื ืฉืืื: ืืืชืื, ืื ืขืก ืงืขื ื ืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืืจ ืืจืืงื ืืื ืืืืก, "ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืื ื ืขืคื"? ืืฉืขืช ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืืขืืื ืื ืืืืข ืืืืื ืข, ืื ืืืช'ืข ืืืืื ืข, ืืื, ืืื ืืขืฉืจืืื ืคืจืืขืจ, ื'ืืื ืื ืคืืืกืืข ืืืคื ืื ื, ืื ืืืจื ืืขืจ ืืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืืื ื ืืืขื ืืขื ืงืขื ืขื ืืจืืืขืจืคืืื ืฆื ืื ื ืฉืื ืืขืจืคืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืขืจืืงืื ืขืจ ืืืื, ืืื ืขืก ืืืขื ืืืคื ืืืขื ืืืืขื ืืื ืฉืืืืืขื, ืืืืฉ ืขืก ืืืขื ืืคืฉืจ ืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืขืจ ืืืฆืื ืืืช, ืืื ื'ืงืขื ื ืื ืืืื ืืืืขืจ ืืคืืื ืื ืืืข ืฆื ืฉืคืจืื, ืืืขืจ ืืืก, ืืื ืืขืืืื, ืืื ืกืืฃ ืกืืฃ ืืืฆืื ืืืช ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืืฆืื ืืืช ืืืืฆืื ืืืช โ |
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I hope you will agree that it's time to switch the expression โwandering about in a hazeโ with a different, happier, and more fitting formulation. Throw off the foreign clothing, and upon every Jew โ each of whom is a member of the โkingdom of kohanimโ โ will immediately be revealed the glorious and beautiful clothes of the kohanim. |
ืืื ืืืฃ, ืื ืืืจ ืืืขื ืืกืืื ืืืื, ืื ืก'ืืื ืฆืืื ืฆื ืคืืจืืืืื ืืขื ืืืืกืืจืืง "ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืื ื ืขืคื" ืืื ืื ืื ืืขืจื ืคืจืืืืืื ืืื ืืขืจ "ืคืืกื ืื" ื ืืกื: ืืจืืคืืืืจืคื ืื ืคืจืขืืืข ืงืืืืืขืจ ืคืื ืืื, ืืื ืขืก ืืืขื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืืืื ืืืืฃ ืืขืื ืืืื โ ืืืืก ืืขืืขืจ ืืืื ืขืจ ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืืืื ืคืื "ืืืืืช ืืื ืื" โ ืื ืืืื ืืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืชืคืืจืช. |
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Given that we are now in the day when we count the sefirah, which underscores the preciousness of time, may it be Gโdโs will that each one of us, together with the whole Jewish community, will strive in the direction described above, with alacrity; every instant sooner is better. |
ืืขืคืื ืขื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืขื ืคืื ืกืคืืจื, ืืืืก ืืืก ืฆืืืื ืืื ืืขืจืฉืืจืืืื ืื ืืืืขืจืงืืื ืคืื ืฆืืื, ืืื ืจืฆืื ืื ืืขืืขืจ ืืืื ืขืจ ืคืื ืืื ื ืืชืืืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืืืืื ืืขืฉืจืืืขื ืขืจ ืจืืืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืืคื ืคืื ืืคื ืฉืขื ืืืช ืงืืื |
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With respect and blessing, |
ืืืืื ืืืืจืื |
1976 - Grade to the Rebbe: โA Letter in the Form of a Poemโ
Source: YIVO, Papers of Chaim Grade and Inna Hecker Grade, RG 1952, Box 94, Folder 2414
In a note scrawled on a copy of this text, Grade described it as โa letter in the form of a poem.โ It contains three stanzas, each of six lines in an AABCCB rhyming structure. I have tried to reflect the rhyme scheme in my translation. In the final line, Grade signs off in a form that is traditionally used when addressing a note of supplication to a chassidic rebbe, using his name and his motherโs name.
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BโH |
ื"ื |
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You are comparable, Rebbe, to the ocean, |
ืืืจ ืืืื ืืขืืืืื, ืจืื, ืฆื ืืขื ืึธืงืขืึทื |
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Which gladdens, merely because it exists, alone |
ืืืึธืก ืขืจ ืืขืจืคืจืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืืืื, ืืืึธืก ืขืจ ืืื ืคืึทืจืึทื |
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Thatโs how I soothingly sense you, when Iโm stuck in a stay, |
ืืืื ืืขืจืคืื ืืื ืืืื, ืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืึท ืงืืขื |
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When the samach mem21 has me beneath its sway โ |
ืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืจ ืฉืืืื ืคืื ืืขื ืกืึถื ืึถื |
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And since, in everything, you seek the inherent good, |
ืืื ืืืืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืขืื ืขืคึผืขืก ืืืืก ืก'ืืื ืืื |
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You gladden hard hearts, and ignite the blood โ |
ืืขืจืคืจืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืืขืจืข ืืขืจืฆืขืจ ืืื ืฆืื ืื ืึธื ืืึธืก ืืืื |
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Whether for the ordinary man-on-the-street, or for a president โ even Shazar, |
ืืื ืคืื ืึท ืืึทืก-ืืขื ืืฉ ืืื ืึท ื ืฉืื โ ืืื ืฉืืจ |
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(For whom I still mourn!)22 โ you are a balm for every scar, |
(ืืื ืืืืื ื ืึธื ืึทืืฅ ืืืืฃ ืืื!) โ ืืืื ืืืจ ืึท ืืจืืืกื ืืื ืฆืขืจ |
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May you live, Rebbe, for one hundred and twenty years, |
ืืื ืืึธืื ืืืจ ืืขืื, ืจืื, ืืื ืืขืจื ืฆืืืึทื ืฆืืง ืืึธืจ |
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And lead the โfarbrengens,โ together with the choral melodies, |
ืืื ืื ืคืืจื ืืืืฃ ืื "ืคืึทืจืืจืขื ืืขืก" ืืืื ืืึธืจ |
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At an auspicious time, Rebbe, please also to your mind recall, |
ืืื ืึท ืขืช ืจืฆืื ืืึธื ืืืื, ืจืื, ืืื ืืขืืึทื ืง |
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A tormented man, ailing in his body and ailing in his soul, |
ืึท ืืืฉ ืืืืืืื, ืืื ืืืื ืืืฃ ืืื ื ืคืฉ ืงืจืึทื ืง |
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