Elul 27, 5703September 27, 1943
Mr. Alexander Cowen
250 W. 104th St.
New York City
Dear Mr. Cowen:
At the approach of Rosh-Hashonah I want to send you herewith my best New Year wishes for a 'Ksiva Vachasimo Toivo' to you and your family.
I also wish to take this opportunity to enclose herewith a copy of our latest publication specially for Jewish Servicemen.1 As I have not your son’s address,2 I am sure you will be glad to send it to him yourself. I will merely ask you to convey to him my personal best New Year wishes.
As a special Rosh-Hashonah thought — isn’t it significant that our Rosh Hashonah is not counted from the very first day of Creation when space and time heaven and earth and their hosts were created, nor is it counted from the seventh day of Creation — the day hallowed by the Creator as the Sabbath. But our Rosh Hashonah is counted from the day on which Man was created on earth — a being who on the very same day made all the universe acknowledge the reign and sovereignty of G-d, proclaiming 'The Lord hath become king: He hath robed Himself with majesty'. 'Let’s come and worship, bow down and kneel before the Lord our maker'. (See Pirkei d’Rabbi Elazar 11; Zohar 1, 221:2)
Once again my sincerest best wishes and kindest personal regards,
Very sincerely yours,
Rabbi Mendel Schneerson
Chairman, Executive Committee
Notes and sources
The above letter is sourced from a secretarial carbon copy bearing archival markings in the Rebbe’s handwriting. The letter was sent on the stationery of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.
1) Courage and Safety Through Faith and Trust in G-d: A Message To the Jewish Serviceman (Machne Israel, 1943). This message can be accessed here.
2) Mr. J. David Cowen served as a radio operator in the U.S. Navy’s Pacific fleet (see Talks and Tales Sivan, 5703 (vol. II, No. 7 (19)). Later published in Talks and Tales, vol. 1, p. 219).
Source: Secretarial Carbon Copy.
Published: Rebbe Responsa Exclusive.
RR #18