"Public-private" letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 1964.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his handwritten signature – "M. Schneersohn", with additions and corrections in his handwriting.
A "public-private" letter (an identical letter sent to several individuals), sent to R. Dov Ber Tkach. In the letter, the Rebbe explains the meaning of Shavuot, the festival of the giving of the Torah. The primary idea of Shavuot is "annulling the division and separation between the upper and lower regions… a total unification". He explains that every Jew's role is to work to unite the upper and lower regions in all of his personal matters – "both spiritual and physical, private and public". In so doing, the prophecy is fulfilled that G-d's glory will be revealed.
The Rebbe concludes his letter with a blessing for the upcoming Shavuot festival: "With a blessing – in the words of the rabbi, namely my father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz – to receive the Torah joyfully and internally".
On the margins of the letter are references and sources for topics and ideas cited in the letter.
The recipient of the letter, R. Dov Ber Tkach (1889-1975), an important Chabad rabbi in Eretz Israel, founded and directed the Bnei Temimim Torah school and Achei Temimim yeshiva in Tel Aviv. Born in Ludmir (Volodymyr), he was one of the first students of the Ludmir yeshiva under the Karlin Chassid R. Chaim Mendel Kostromtzki, and later studied under R. Yoel Shurin in Zviahel, who declared him worthy of being a great posek. After his engagement to the daughter of R. Avraham Eliyahu Seltz of Lokachi he joined the Chabad movement and studied in the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lubavitch. He was later appointed rabbi and mashpia in a Chabad community in Ludmir, where he would deliver Chassidic lectures in the Lubavitch shtiebel. He also raised funds for the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Warsaw. In the summer of 1932 he participated in the arrangements for the visit of the Rebbe Rayatz in Ludmir. In 1935 he immigrated to Eretz Israel and served as Rabbi of the Kontrovitz and Ahavat Tzion synagogues in Tel Aviv. In 1947 he traveled to the United States on behalf of the Rebbe Rayatz to raise funds for Chabad institutions in Tel Aviv. He is known for authoring Kuntres HaShemot HeChadash (twelve parts) – an important index of names for scribes of marriage and divorce documents. In addition, he authored Tarach Amudei Or on the 613 mitzvot (eight parts), Seder Yemot Olam on history, and more.
[1] leaf. Approx. 28 cm. Thin paper. Fair condition. Folding marks and creases. Stains and wear. Minor marginal open tears (not affecting text).
