By the Grace of G-d 13th of Marcheshvan, 5725 Brooklyn, N, Y.
Mrs. Gittel Leah Weberman
7620 Dickens Ave.
Miami Beach 41, Fla.
Blessing and Greeting:
I duly received your letter and enclosure, but owing to the intervening Yomim Tovim, etc., it was not convenient to reply to your letter sooner.
במענה1 לשאלתה - היתחילו לחפש את קרובם וכו'
כיון שזה עשיריות בשנים שנפסקו כל הקשרים עמו ובמילא אין כל מושג ע"ד המצב בזה בנוגע לגשמיות, רוחניות, דתיות וכו' ובמילא א"א לדעת כלל השפעת תוצאות החיפוש על הורי' שי' על ב"ב שי' וכו' הרי (לע"ע עכ"פ) לא יעשו בהנ"ל מאומה.
ובפרט שבזה תקיים ג"כ מצות כבוד אם הדורשת זה.
באם במשך הזמן תשנה אמה את דעתה בזה - יש מקום להתחיל בחיפוש בתנאי שיהי' החיפוש באופן שלא יִוָדַע כלל להמחופש עד"ז - עד שמעצמם ירצו לגלות זה.
תקותי אשר מממשיכים ומוסיפים you and your husband in spreading Yiddishkeit in your community. [Which] is a unique privilege, in view of the fact that Miami Beach is a community which is visited by Jews from all parts of the States, and often also from other countries. Thus the benefits which such visitors derive from your efforts to encourage and strengthen Yiddishkeit are not only confined to the visitors themselves, but are taken along with them to their communities in other cities and countries.
Incidentally, this further illustrates how far reaching can be the influence of a single individual, man or woman, if one utilizes one's potential to the full. This is also one of the central points of my message for Rosh Hashana of this year,2 a copy of which is enclosed, although you may have already had occasion to see it.
Receipt is enclosed for your Tzedoko, and may it further stand you in good stead.
With blessing
By (secretary)
Notes and sources
We only have the first draft of this letter. On the header of this letter, the Rebbe directed the secretary to enclose a קבלה. כללי באנג' [receipt and the Michtav Klali in English].
1) On the draft, the Rebbe added the following for the secretary to translate. We provide here a loose translation:
In reply to your question - should they start searching for their relative, etc.
Being that, for several decades, contact has been cut off with him hence his condition physically, spiritually, religiously are completely unknown. Consequently the effect of the outcome of the search, on your parents and family, may they live, are impossible to know, etc. Thus (at least for the time being) nothing should be done in this regard. Especially that through this you will also fulfill the Mitzvah of honoring your mother which demands this [course of action].
If in the course of time your mother will change her mind in this regard - there is room to start the search on condition that the search should be in such a manner that it would be completely unknown to the one you are searching - until they reveal themselves on their own volition.
It is my hope that] you and your husband [are continuing, in growing measures] in spreading...
2) Dated In the Days of Selichoth, 5724.
Source: First draft/ Secretary's copy
Published: Teshura, (Schapiro-Minkoff, 3 Sivan, 5760)