By the Grace of G-d5th of Iyar, 5712Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. E. Freedland
919 Park Place
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting and Blessing:
I was pleased to hear that the Bris of your son Benjamin Mendel1 took place in good order.
I send herewith my blessing that "as he entered into the Covenant of our Father Abraham, so shall he enter to a life of Torah, Chuppah and Good Deeds,"2 and that you raise him in joy and have lots of Nachas from him.
With blessing
M.Schneerson
Notes and sources
Rivkah (Rhoda) and Chaim Meir (Everett) Friedland married in 1947. After several years of marriage, the doctors told Rhoda that she will not be able to have children. When they told the Rebbe Rayatz in a private audience that they wanted to adopt, he smiled and told them they'll have a healthy children (8 Shevat 5710).
All the doctors Mrs. Rhoda visited, told her that it is of vital necessity to have an operation that will permanently prevent pregnancy. Mrs. Friedland visited the Rebbe to help her in her conundrum. The Rebbe assured her that the blessing of the Rebbe Rayatz is certainly going to be fulfilled and that she should get the opinions of specialists who would advise her not to have the operation.
After being told by several doctors she must operate the Rebbe told her to see another doctor. This time the doctor scheduled her an appointment for an operation. Mrs. Friedland came by the Rebbe to thank him for all the encouragement he gave her and to inform him that she will be going through with the operation.
The Rebbe asked her to do him a favor. “What is it?” she asked. “Please just visit one more doctor,” the Rebbe said. This time the doctor informed her she was pregnant (interview with Mrs. Freedland, JEM)
An additional letter addressed to Mr. Friedland is dated 5 Kislev, 5728.
1) Named for Mrs. Freedland's father, Benjamin Horwitz (see letter 14 Cheshvan, 5709)
2) From the prayers recited by the Bris.
Source: Photocopy of original.
Published: My Story - vol. II preview (JEM, 5779), p. 42.