By the Grace of G-d 5th Chanukah candle 5720. Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rabbi S. D. Sassoon
15 Sollershott East
Letchworth, Herts.
Sholom uBrocho!
... I take this opportunity to express my gratification at the two books which you published in honor of your sons’ Yitzchak and David’s Bar Mitzvah, the Moshav Zekenim1 and the exegesis of Rabbi Abraham, son of the Rambam.2 May G-d grant that since their entering under the yoke of the Mitzvoth was associated with the dissemination of Torath Rishonim, Rishonim k’Malachim,3 may your sons merit to walk in their ways to practise and spread the Torah and Mitzvoth with joy and gladness of heart.
I cannot forgo this occasion without mentioning the fact that this year is the 200th anniversary of the Histalkut-Hilula of the Baal Shem Tov, who has emphasized the dissemination of the Torah and Penimiut haTorah among the widest possible circles, and as stated in Iggeret haKodesh of the Baal haTanya referring to the “Dissemination of the Fountains Abroad.” Moreover, the emphasis is coupled with Ahavat Yisrael, with vitality and animation. And as with the case of all remembrances among Jews, the underlying significance is the practical application and lasting inspiration of the teachings of the Baal haYovel.
With best wishes for an inspiring Chanukah, and with blessing.
נ.ב.4
כמנהגי בכגון דא, לחביבותא דמילתא, ציינתי איזה הערות עכ״פ בחפזה כפי רשיון הזמן.
מושב זקנים.
בתחלתו. ע״א. שיטה המתחלת עשה. כנראה צ״ל ועשה. וכ״ה בב״ר ספי״א ועוד.
התירוץ וי״ל - הוא בפי׳ ריב״א כאן.
מענין לענין. בפי׳ הריב״א שהובא בע' נו צ״ל יעקב במקום לאה. ונמצא בפי׳ ריב״א הנדפס.
במפתח מצוין ריב״א בע׳ קנח, ולא מצאתיו שם.
צ״ע שלא נרשם במפתח רש״י. אף שנזכר בכ״מ [בשם "רש"י" (לדוגמא: רכב, שעא, תב) או "ר"ש" (ב, סב, קיב, קנח)], ואולי מפני כי רב הוא.
פי׳ הר״א בן הרמב״ם.
בתחלתו. הערה א׳. כ״ה גם בפרדר״א ספ״ט.
הערה ט׳. להעיר מבראשית רבה ספ״ז.
בפנים. חי׳ שיש לה נפש. להעיר מפרש״י פסוק כ, כד. וראה זהר חדש בראשית מדרש הנעלם פ״ד. רמב״ם הל׳ יסוה״ת פ״ד, ח־ט.
Notes and sources
Rabbi Solomon (Suleiman) David Sassoon (1915–1985) was a London-born rabbi, scholar, and communal leader, the son of the noted bibliophile David Solomon Sassoon (1880–1942), founder of the famed Sassoon Library of rare Jewish manuscripts. Ordained in 1936, he relocated with his family and the library to Letchworth during World War II, where he served as president and vice-chairman of the Hebrew Congregation, headmaster of its Talmud Torah, and conducted a Sephardi minyan in his home (1940–1957).
Additional correspondence addressed to him include Hebrew letters of 30 Sivan, 5712 (Igros Kodesh, vol. 6, letter 1668 – a request for photostats from his library); Erev Shavuos, 5714 (ibid, vol. 9, letter 2711); 30 Sivan, 5715 (ibid, vol. 11, letter 3591 – the Rebbe thanks him for sending his recent publication, encourages him to continue sharing future works, and invites him to correspond in English); English letter dated 25 Teves, 5730.
1) Moshav Zekenim Al Hatorah (Letchworth, 1959), a compilation of exegesis of the Tosafists, published from Sassoon manuscript #409 by Rabbi Sassoon in honor of the bar mitzvah of his son Yitzchak.
2) Pirush Rabbeinu Avraham Ben Harambam – Bereishis, Shemos (London, 1958), published from Sassoon manuscript #368 by Rabbi Sassoon in honor of the bar mitzvah of his son David.
3) Para. Shabbos 112b.
4) In the N.B. that follows, the Rebbe includes his scholarly comments on the two works.
Published: Igros Kodesh, vol. 19 (Kehot, 1990), 109, Letter 7133.
אג"ק חי"ט, ע' קט (אגרת ז'קלג): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fc7VEyxNZ25oDLP26l9APvG1bjjjESB0/view?usp=sharing