By the Grace of G-d 21st of Teveth, 5721 Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I have your two recent letters.

Needless to say, my reference to the matter of Tzedoko¹ was not for the purpose of requesting an accounting, ח"ו, but only to express my concern, since so much depends on it. Moreover, our Sages of blessed memory have already told us that “It is good to activate the active,”² which means that it is useful also to encourage those who are already active.

I was gratified to read about your preparations for the Banquet of Lubavitch House⁴ (all the more since its financial position has been getting more stringent, coupled with the need for increasing the activities or spreading the Torah). May G-d grant that the preparations and the Banquet be with much success, and in a greater degree than anticipated.

Looking forward to hearing good news from you, both in regard to your personal affairs, as well as to Klal,

With blessing,

M. Schneerson

P.S. With reference to recording an address for the Banquet, it is not the custom to do so. This is also understandable from the point of view of Chassidus, which demands spontaneous reaction and inward inspiration, which the occasion itself should call forth, etc. Obviously, words spoken in the presence of a large congregation of Jews (and the Shekhina rests on every congregation of even ten Jews⁴) have a special סעייתא דשמיא inspiration and significance, which cannot be "obtained" when speaking in front of a recording. You will surely understand.