Elul 23, 5704September 11, 1944
Mr. Alexander Cowen
250 W. 104th St.
New York City
Dear Mr. Cowen:
I am in receipt of your recent letter and regret that I could not answer it sooner.
May I at first thank you very much for the answer given to Dr. Kaminetsky in regard to the criticism of the text books. As soon as we can free ourselves somewhat from the immediate work entailed in the opening of the new school term we shall answer this report in detail.
Concerning Dr. Kominetsky's request for the Tefillin booklets,1 please inform us as to whether he is to be sent the material gratis, whether a bill for the full amount is to be sent or whether a discount is to be granted. The regular price is 20¢ per copy, taking into account the cost involved.
We have reprinted, separately, upon popular request, the "Laws Concerning Tefillin". Enclosed you will find a copy. If more copies are desired we shall be glad to supply same immediately.
One of the great Hassidic rabbis2 once connected the subject of Tefillin with that of Rosh Hashanah. He cited the Talmud (Berochoth 6a) that the Almighty also wears Tefillin in which are written the praises and virtues of the Jewish nation. Since the Almighty must wear kosher Tefillin it follows that he must forgive all our sins, so that the praises of Israel in His Tefillin may be true.
I take this opportunity to wish you and Mrs. Cowen a Ksiva Vachasima Tova.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi M. Schneerson
Chairman, Executive Committee
P.S. Is our letter to Dr. Kaminetsky to be addressed Rabbi Dr. or just Dr. Kaminetsky?
Notes and sources
The above letter is sourced from a secretarial carbon copy. The letter was sent on the stationery of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.
1) The recipient of this letter wrote a booklet titled Tefillin (Phylacteries): A Brief Treatise on the Significance of This Important Mitzvah (New York, 1944), which also included the basic laws and pictures for the correct placement of the Teffilin. See Igros Kodesh of the Rebbe Rayatz, vol. 8, letter 2,475, p. 383 (29 Av, 5704), where he notes that he received a copy of this booklet, and ibid., letter 2,481 (pp. 387-388) in which he thanks Mr. Cowen for writing the pamphlet. See also Kovetz Lubavitch, No. 4, p. 57, for a description of this pamphlet.
2) The following is quoted in the name of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov in several places (see, for example, Sefer Zechus Yisrael — Eser Oros, p. 52 (section 3 (Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov), par. 35).
Source: Secretarial Carbon Copy.
Published: Rebbe Responsa Exclusive.
RR #18
The Kosher Teffilin of Heaven