(Seventh Grand Rabbi of Lubavitch, 1902-94).

SCHNEERSON, MENACHEM MENDEL.

“Zoth Chanukah”

Brooklyn, NY

1942

Typed Letters Signed, written in Hebrew to Rabbi Zalman Tzadok Silver of Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Includes a few manuscript corrections in the Rebbe’s hand. Signed: “HaRav Menachem Schneerson, Chairman of the Executive Committee.” Discusses in detail the activities of Lubavitch’s Machne Israel and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch organizations, and seeks to develop a partnership with this Canadian rabbi in furthering mutual goals.

Written by the Rebbe a full eight years before he took over leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, and only some 18 months after he arrived in the United States, after fleeing Nazi dominated Europe. “We have heard good things about you and would like to let you become aware of our work… My father-in-law [the current Lubavitcher Rebbe at the time] came to America about two and a half years ago and started to work diligently to strengthen Judaism [here].” In closing, the Rebbe alludes to the Holocaust which was raging at the time: “In these days of difficult decrees, as difficult as in the times of Haman, the suggestion that is well known…is to teach our children… Everyone needs to see the world as half good and half bad, and so according to one’s deeds, he brings the world to the better half.”