Rebbe’s Last Letter Revealed in Florida
Chabad of Hallendale, FL, directed by Rabbi Raphael Tenenhaus, hosted a Gimmel Tammuz gathering Monday night, with over 200 people from all over southern Broward County in attendance. Also in attendance were reporters from local affiliates of ABC, CBS and Fox News, who were there to gauge the Jewish community’s reaction to the horrific news of the murder of the three missing Israeli teenagers.
When the reporters arrived, Rabbi Tenenhaus was in the midst of teaching the Rebbe’s last Ma’amar – V’Atoh Teztaveh – to the crowd. He explained that just like the olive oil for the holy Menorah, when Jewish people are ‘crushed,’ they rise to a higher level.
The Farbrengen was led by Rabbi Chaim Drizin, and lasted for over four hours. A special ‘junior Farbrengen’ was held simultaneously for the children.
A highlight of the evening was when Rabbi Tenenhaus presented to everyone present a personal copy of the Rebbe’s last letter, written on the morning of 27 Adar 1, 5752 (1992). The letter, addressed to the Jewish community of Hallendale in attendance of a dinner to benefit the Chabad Center, was signed by the Rebbe immediately before he departed to the Ohel, where he suffered a stroke. The letter was later found sitting on the Rebbe’s desk by Rabbi Leibel Groner. (see below)
In light of the murders of the three Yeshiva students in Israel, Rabbi Tennenhaus asked all men present to put on Tefillin themselves and with three other Jewish men this week, and that all women and girls encourage three women and girls to light Shabbos candles this Friday.
Some fifty people wrote a Pan to the Rebbe, which is being brought today to the Ohel.
Dovber
But the letter is dated Purim Koton?
Common
For a letter from the Rebbe to have an earlier date and signed by the Rebbe on a later date.
Dovber
@Common, but 10 days later?
N. Scherer
I have a letter dated 26 Adar 1 which didn’t go into the Rebbe until late Sunday night which was already 27 Adar 1. It was signed either in the wee hours of Monday morning or before the Rebbe went to Ohel (the two times of the day that the Rebbe responded to letters). I picked up the letter from Rabbi Simpson’s office while the Rebbe was at the Ohel.
More info on this letter
See here: http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/letters/default_cdo/aid/1919956/jewish/The-Last-Letter.htm
Ask
Ask Rabbi Groner. He can answer if your letter was the last or not