We hereby present Issue 67 of Rebbe Responsa, a compilation of letters authored by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in English.
This Shabbos, the 20th of Av, marks the 80th anniversary of the Passing of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson.
In this week’s booklet you will find a collection of letters concerning Congregation Levi Yitzchok of Hollandale, Florida, a shul named for the Rebbe’s father. Most of the letters are addressed to the Shul’s founder, Mr. Moshe Mordechai (Marvin) Shuster and his wife Chana (Susan).
In an interview, Mrs. Shuster recounts: “We had a minyan in our house with complete prayer services every Shabbat, which eventually led to my husband buying a house and having it converted into a synagogue.”
Around the time of the move (in 5741) the Rebbe gave his approval for the name of the congregation to be changed from Beis Hakneses Shomrei-Hadas – Chabad, to Congregation Levi Yitzchok – Lubavitch.
In the following letters, the Rebbe guides the Shusters through the challenges their newly formed congregation faced and defines its mission. In a letter written to the Shul’s president in 5745, the Rebbe draws on the life of the congregation’s namesake:
My father of saintly memory, after whom your congregation is named, exemplified such real Mesiras-Nefesh for the preservation of Yiddishkeit under the most trying conditions, suffering persecution and exile, and inspiring many Jews to follow his example. Here in the U.S.A. etc. G-d gave us the possibility to practice all this without any difficulties at all and many times - even with the encouragement of the environment. Therefore, I trust and am sure each and all members and friends of Congregation Levi Yitzchok-Lubavitch will be continuously inspired, too, to help make the Congregation a model of what a Jewish congregation should be like.
We take this opportunity to turn to our readers and ask anyone who may have letters from the Rebbe in their possession to kindly consider sharing them with us, thereby enabling countless individuals around the world to benefit from the timeless wisdom and counsel they contain.
The Rebbe’s English letters contain a wealth of guidance and insight on a vast array of topics written in a style relatable to Jews from all walks of life. For access to over 5,000 of these letters, we encourage you to download the Rebbe Responsa app.
May we merit the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days!
The Rebbe Responsa Team
