Weekly Letter: Bridging the Gap

Following last week’s presidential election, we present a letter from the Rebbe to President Ronald Reagan in 1985, in which he gives the commander-in-chief encouraging and supportive words to lead our country “in these sadly confused times,” and encouraging his effort to “bridge the gap… necessary for the proper balance of harmony.” The letter, written originally in English, is from the archives of the Rebbe’s personal trusted secretary, Rabbi Nissan Mindel.

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                                                                                                                                       By the Grace of G-d

12 Nissan, 5745

Brooklyn, N.Y.

President Ronald Reagan

The White House

Washington, D.C.

 

Greeting and Blessing:

I am immensely impressed with your letter and deeply appreciative of your most generous sentiments. I welcome your encouraging remarks particularly as a tribute to the Chabad –Lubavvitch movement, which I am honored and privileged to head, and which has found such fertile soil since its Headquarters was  transferred to the USA forty five years ago, where it has thrived and developed as an unprecedented pace in its 200 year history.

In the name, therefore, of our movement no less than in my personal name, I extend to you Mr. President and to the First Lady a heartfelt “thank you.”

I sincerely reciprocate your good wishes in the words of our Sages: “Whoever blesses others is blessed by G-d Himself, the Source of all blessings.” May G-d continue to bestow His generous blessings on you and all yours – which includes all of us who are privileged to live in this blessed land, so generously favored with an abundance of blessings, materially and spiritually, as to giving it an extraordinary historic  role to lead the world, particularly in these sadly confused times, when scientific and technological advancement has outpaced moral and spiritual advancement.

You, Mr. President, have consistently and vigorously worked to bridge the said gap, which is so necessary for the achievement of the proper balance and harmony between might and right. I believe, Mr. President that these efforts and notable success you have attained in this direction, will surely rank among your highest historic achievements.

With prayerful wishes for your continued success in carrying out the awesome responsibilities of your most exalted Office in good health and prosperity, with joy and gladness of heart and in all respects – “going form strength to strength” (Psalms 84:8),

Cordially and

With esteem and blessing,

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The above letter is from Volume IV of The Letter and the Spirit by Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP).

These letters were written originally in English and were prepared for publication by Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, whose responsibility it was the Rebbe’s correspondence in English and several other languages.

We thank Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro, who was entrusted by his father-in-law Rabbi Mindel with his archives and who is Director of the Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP), for making the Rebbe’s letters available to the wider public. May the merit of the many stand him in good stead.