(1902-1994. Seventh Grand Rabbi of Lubavitch)

SCHNEERSON, MENACHEM MENDEL.

Erev Shabbath Kodesh, Shabbath Teshuvah

Brooklyn, NY

1951

Autograph Letter (draft) Signed in Hebrew written in pencil and final six lines in ink, with corrections and the Rebbe's signatue. This unusual signature includes his mother's name: "Menachem Mendel ben Chana Schneersohn." Written to Mohar"i S[he]Y[ichyeh] concerning the significance of Teshuvah Ila'ah

MOST UNCOMMON LETTER. Of the many tens of thousands of letters the Lubavitcher Rebbe composed, the vast majority were typed. The present two-page letter is entirely in the Rebbe’s hand. Moreover, research has indicated the Rebbe wrote only twelve letters that he signed with the addition of his mother's name. All twelve were written in 1951, the first year of the Rebbe assuming the leadership of the Chabad dynasty. The editors of Igroth Kodesh state this letter was sent "Kelali u-perati," both as a public “open” letter as well as to specific individuals. It was also the cover letter to the appended Kuntress of Ma'amarim for Shabbath Teshuvah and Yom Kippur. It is interesting to note the revised portions in this original draft from the final published version. (See See Igroth Kodesh, Vol. IV no. 769)