Connecting to an Infinite Existence
The Rebbe’s life was dedicated to the Jewish people; the essential aspect of a Rebbe and the eternality of his life; connection to the Rebbe’s infinite existence and life mission
ב”ה
11th of Tammuz, 5710
June 26th, 1950
Mr. Julius Stulman
171 West Street
Brooklyn, N.Y.
My dear Mr. Stulman:
The 12th and 13th of Tammuz (tomorrow and Wednesday) are days of especial significance in our Jewish life. The 12th day of Tammuz is my saintly father-in-law's birthday. The 13th is the anniversary of his liberation from imprisonment in Soviet Russia (in 1927). These days are celebrated annually as "Chag Hageulah" (Festival of Redemption) by his followers and friends throughout the world. You are no doubt aware of this.
Everything that happened to my saintly father-in-law during his leadership, all his experiences and activities during this time, were always connected with the spiritual and material welfare of our people as a whole.
His imprisonment was dictated by an attempt to stop his activities for the strengthening of the Jewish way of life, the dissemination of the Torah study and religious practice in Russia and abroad. His liberation was a triumph of light over darkness, a victory for our whole people.
While in each and every individual the spiritual self is the essential part of one's personality, in the case of a Tzadik like our saintly Rabbi of blessed memory it was his entire personality. His physical being was but a medium through which to come in contact with all those who were destined to benefit from him materially and spiritually.
Needless to say, that his spiritual self — his whole — is not subject to termination or extinction. In this sense, his birthday is celebrated together with his liberation, year after year, even now.
This celebration is an opportunity for all of us to become even more closely associated with his life’s work, and become part of his infinite existence. Each one of us can do this by carrying out that mission which he has singled us out to do, and we must do it with ever growing devotion and resoluteness.
I am sure that deep in your soul, like in every one of us, you too often dedicate moments of spiritual communion with our Rabbi of sainted memory, and his image rises before your eyes.
I am sure that you are fully conscious of the things he wants you to accomplish in this life, and that if there were any interruptions along your path towards that goal, they are rather in the nature of intermissions to gather additional strength, as in the case of an athlete bracing himself for his feat.
I trust that the 12th-13th of Tammuz, occurring on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, will bring you inspiration to accomplishments in fact, in accordance with your soul's mission in life, which my father-in-law of blessed memory pointed out to you repeatedly, and commensurate with the scope which he had indicated to you.
With all good wishes to you and your family,
Very sincerely,
M. Schneerson
Source: Photocopy of the original.
Mr. Julius (Yehudah) Stulman (1906–1997) was a prominent American-born industrialist, thinker, and philanthropist. In the early 1940s, Stulman developed a deep personal connection with the Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe, becoming one of the biggest financial supporters of Merkos. For additional information regarding Mr. Stulman and his connection with the Rebbe, as well as a list of close to 100 letters addressed to him, see letter dated October 11, 1942, and as referenced there. On numerous occasions the Rebbe Rayatz conveyed to Mr. Stulman that his soul’s mission was to ensure the success of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, and Torah true education for children.
