A Special Present for the Rebbe’s Birthday

Twelve days ago, at a Shabbos Mevarchim fabrengen, Shlomo Hamburger made a resolution about a present for the Rebbe’s birthday. Hamburger, a retired lawyer living in Maryland, had been working (on and off) for over a year on a translation and explanation of a letter from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson to the Rebbe written in 1934. He just could not finish the project.

Then, at the fabrengen, Hamburger realized that this year is the 90th anniversary of the 1934 letter. With the Rebbe’s birthday fast approaching, Hamburger resolved that he would focus on finishing his translation and explanation in time for the Rebbe’s birthday (11 Nissan). Juggling Pesach cleaning and preparations with late night research and writing, he was able to finish his translation and explanation in time.

This special letter addresses fascinating ideas about Purim and Pesach. In particular, for Pesach, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explains the deep spiritual and kabbalistic significance of the middle matzah and four cups of wine at the seder. Learning this letter before Pesach can be another type of very special present for the Rebbe’s birthday. As the Rebbe wrote forty years ago, “It is my obligation and great zechus to suggest, request, etc., that everyone study from {my father’s} teachings.”