In 5737, as the Rebbe celebrated his 75th birthday, Harav Moshe Feinstein, head of Agudas HaRabbonim and the leading posek of America, wrote a letter on behalf of the Agudah to honor the Rebbe. The letter, entrusted to someone for mailing, was never sent and is now being shared for the first time.
By Anash.org reporter
In 5737 (1977), as the Rebbe celebrated his 75th birthday, a multitude of rabbonim, dignitaries, and political figures sent letters of congratulations and best wishes. Among those who chose to send their regards was Harav Moshe Feinstein, who at the time was the chairman of Agudas HaRabbonim and widely regarded as the foremost posek of America and beyond.
At that time, Harav Feinstein composed a letter on behalf of the Agudas HaRabbonim to honor the Rebbe’s milestone. He entrusted someone with the task of mailing the letter, but for reasons that remain unclear, the letter was never sent. Instead, it was kept in the possession of the individual who had been entrusted with this responsibility.
Years later, after this person had passed away, his family went through his belongings and discovered the long-forgotten letter. Recently, the letter was purchased by R’ Chaim Kolodny, a collector from Los Angeles, who shared it with Anash.org.
In the letter, which Reb Moshe writes “with love and joy,” he expresses his profound respect for the Rebbe, blessing him with the strength and ability to continue leading the Chabad movement in an elevated manner and guiding the Jewish people closer to Hashem to Torah and mitzvos.
The full text of the letter reads as follows:
ר”ח ניסן תשל”ז
הנני בזה לברך את הוד כבוד קדושת הגאון הצדיק מוהרמ”מ שניאורסון האדמו”ר מליובאוויטש שליט”א, לרגלי יום הולדתו, אשר יברכהו השם יתברך בהנהגת נשיאותו ברמה ברוב פעליו המרובים לכבוד השם יתברך ותורתו ומצותיו, אשר המשיך והקריב בהם הרבה מהנחשלים לאבינו שבשמים ולאהבת תורתנו הקדושה וקיום מצוות התורה למעשה, עד ביאת משיח צדקנו, ובנין בית מקדשינו, ולחוג חג הפסח עם כל ישראל כהלכתו.
הכו”ח באהבה ובשמחה בשמי ובשם כל הרבנים חברי אגודת הרבנים
משה פיינשטיין
Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5737
I hereby bless the esteemed and holy Gaon, the Tzaddik Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Rebbe of Lubavitch, shlita, on the occasion of his birthday.
May Hashem bless him with the strength to lead his nesius in an elevated manner, in all of his many endeavors for the honor of Hashem’s name, His Torah, and His mitzvos. Through his efforts, he has brought many of the lost closer to our Father in Heaven and to a love of our holy Torah, to the fulfillment of the mitzvos.
May we merit the coming of our righteous Moshiach and the rebuilding of our Beis HaMikdash, and to celebrate with all Yidden the holiday of Pesach with all of its laws.
Written and signed with love and joy, in my own name and in the name of all the rabbis of the Agudas HaRabonim,
Moshe Feinstein
HOW BEAUTIFULLLY WRITTEN!