The Value and Redemption of Torah Books
According to custom, the acquisition of Torah books or manuscripts should specifically be done through actual payment; this way, the purchaser will value the Sefer – after all, he paid for it...
Nothing is for Nothing
The Previous Rebbe would publish Kuntreisim (pamphlets) from time to time and had instructed that the price should be printed on their covers ... I once asked him why it was necessary to put the price on the cover – is it not enough that a price is quoted and demanded [when one purchases the pamphlet]?!
The Previous Rebbe answered me, “[Yiddish:] As min hat tzu tan mitten olam – since we are engaging and dealing with the world – [and the Hebrew term for ‘world’ (Olam) stems etymologically] from the phrase ‘Helem VeHester,’ a ‘concealment’ [of G-dliness and true purpose] – it is therefore necessary to negate any concerns that are likely to arise from the world’s distorting tendencies. And since our Sages state, ‘A physician who heals for nothing (without accepting payment) is worth nothing,’ we could well apply their teaching to our own case: Torah brings healing to the world. If these Kuntreisim were to be acquired freely, ‘for nothing,’ then despite their bringing healing to the world, one might conclude that ‘it is worth nothing.’ We are required to negate such a misconception, to the extent of printing the price on the front cover.” [That concerned the printing of an official price.] However, it did not matter what price is actually paid – sometimes actual payment was an indispensable requirement... (Parshas Vayigash 5752; Sichos Kodesh p.488)
Never Enough
Each of us should resolve immediately, right now, whilst it is yet Shabbos, to increase the amount of Sefarim we own. We should not make do with the books that we purchased on the afternoon of Erev Shabbos, nor with the amount of books we possessed on Erev Shabbos right before candle-lighting – and not even with those extra books that we acquired in a permissible manner during Shabbos itself, e.g., by receiving a gift and the like. Rather, we should collect more and more Sefarim. (Parshas Vayigash 5752; Sichos Kodesh p.487)
The Value of Each Additional Book
This is the practical instruction that is to be taken from our Farbrengen: Each of us should acquire additional books. We can readily see for ourselves how each new text that we study facilitates better comprehension of all other texts. At the very least, it improves our intellectual capabilities.
Real Books
We should not make do with the new material that is printed weekly – containing either new material (e.g., a new Kuntres, etc.) or merely reprinted material. Rather, we should acquire additional books and manuscripts beyond these weekly publications. The awareness of this campaign will serve to encourage publishers, for they now know that their books are reaching a wider Jewish audience. (ibid, Sichos Kodesh, p.487-488)
Bookstore Discounts
In order to make it easier for people to purchase Torah texts – and actually study them – the Rebbe proposed that we negotiate with all publishers and booksellers, encouraging them to announce special discounts on books covering every area of Torah.
“Rescue” Books from Retailers
Each of us is able to hasten the redemption of those texts that are yet languishing in Russian captivity; we accomplish this by “redeeming” texts that are presently within our reach: Purchase new books and manuscripts in addition to those you already own and bring them home or donate them to a library and so forth.
