November 2[?], 1946[Cheshvan-Kislev 5707]
Mr. Julius Stulman,
171 West Street,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dear Mr. Stulman:
I have just learned that you have returned from your trip to the West Coast, and I wish to extend to you my greetings of welcome upon your return. I trust your trip was successful in every way.
My venerable father-in-law שליט”א, quoting Rabbi Schneur Zalman, once said,2 that when a Jew goes on a journey, 'G-d directeth the steps of man' (Psalms 37,23). That is to say, though on the face of it, it appears that the object of the journey is only some business venture or other similar purely material reason, in reality however, in the case of a Jew, there can be no doubt that the ultimate reason for the journey is a spiritual one, prompted by the soul's desire to bring about the realization of some spiritual object, or Mitzvah, which could not or would not otherwise have been fulfilled, wither in the place of the journey's destination, or on the way thither, or return. I hope that your journey was successful both materially and spiritually.
With kindest personal regards,
Very sincerely yours,
M. Schneerson
Chmn. Exec. Committee
P.S. Knowing that you are back home, I have ordered the office to send you some of our most recent publications.
Notes and sources
This letter was sent on the stationery of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.
Mr. Julius (Yehudah) Stulman was a prominent American-born industrialist, thinker, and philanthropist. In the early 1940s, Stulman developed a deep personal connection with the Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe, becoming one of the biggest financial supporters of Merkos. For additional information regarding Mr. Stulman and his connection with the Rebbe, as well as a list of close to 100 letters addressed to him, see letter dated October 11, 1942.
1) The date in the original letter was mistyped “November 2k”. It can either be November 2, or, perhaps more likely, November twenty-something (which corresponds to the Hebrew dates of 26 Cheshvan - 6 Kislev, 5707).
2) See Igros Kodesh, Rebbe Rayatz, vol. 3, letter 723 (pp. 112-113), et al.
Source: Photocopy of the original
Published: Rebbe Responsa exclusive
Your Soul Brought You to the West Coast