August 20, 1942
Mr. Alexander Cowen1
250 West 104th Street
New York City.
My dear Mr. Cowen:
It was indeed a great pleasure to have the opportunity to get more closely acquainted with you, and I thank you for your visit.
In accordance with our conversation, I am sending you herewith the memorandum in question.2 I take the liberty of repeating again that it is essential to have the Manual3 published and distributed before Rosh Hashona, and consequently time is of the essence.4
Knowing your keen and consistent interest in our activities, I feel confident that you will kindly use your good offices to further the cause of the Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, and especially its publication of the Manual of Prayers & Blessings for Children.
Assuring you of my appreciation, and with kindest personal regards and best wishes for a 'kesivo vachasimo toivo',
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi M. Schneersohn.
Encl.
Notes and sources
The above letter is sourced from a secretarial carbon copy bearing archival notes in the Rebbe’s handwriting. This letter was sent on the stationery of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.
1) Mr. Elchanan (Alexander) Hakohen Cowen (circa 1886-1959) was a life insurance agent in New York. Mr. Cowen became close to Lubavitch through Rabbi Yisrael Jacobson in 1937 and corresponded frequently with the Rebbe Rayatz. He was on the Board of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in America and was instrumental in supporting the work of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch together with his acquaintance Mr. Julius Stulman. In 1943, upon the request of the Rebbe Rayatz, he began a study group with young American intellectuals which brought many of them back to Torah observance. He often gave insights and edits on Merkos’ publications and in 1944, he authored Tefillin (Phylacteries): A Brief Treatise on the Significance of This Important Mitzvah published by Merkos. Alexander passed away at the age of 73 in 1959. For additional letters to Mr. Cowen (in Yiddish) see Igros Kodesh, vol. 14, letter 5,018, and as referenced there; Teshurah (Labkowski-Oster 18 Iyar, 5783), and as referenced there.
2) The Memorandum has not reached us to date. It is mentioned as well in Igros Kodesh, vol. 1, letter 21 (p. 37), and was also sent to the Kramer brothers, a family that supported Lubavitch in its early years in America, and other members of Agudas Chasidei Chabad.
3) The "Manual of Selected Prayers and Blessings" was published by the Rebbe as Chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch — the educational arm of Lubavitch (founded by the Rebbe Rayatz in 5701). It consisted of a selection of prayers and blessings geared for children, with a newly revised English translation in the spirit of Jewish Tradition.
4) The publication of this booklet was unavoidably delayed and was only printed in the month of Shevat the following year (see letter dated January 20, 1943).
Source: Secretarial Carbon Copy.
Published: Rebbe Responsa Exclusive.