"Public-private" letter from Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Brooklyn, New York, 11th Nisan, 1959.
Typewritten on the Rebbe's official stationery, with his handwritten signature – "M.Schneersohn", with words added 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 offers a blessing for the upcoming Pesach festival: "Approaching the Festival of Matzot, the time of our freedom, I hereby offer my blessing for a kosher and joyous festival and for true freedom, freedom from physical worries and spiritual worries – from everything that obstructs service of G-d with happiness and joy; and to draw from this freedom and happiness the entire year…". At the end of the letter the Rebbe adds in his handwriting: "Respectfully and [with a festival blessing]".
On the margins of the letter the Rebbe writes that he received his book, Part IX of Kuntres HaShemot HeChadash, and adds in his handwriting: "Congratulations".

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. Rebbe's official stationery. 21.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks and creases. Many stains and wear. Inscription on verso (in pencil).