A letter, penned by Nosson A”H in the week proceeding Lag B’Omer of this year:

a translation of the original Hebrew

Greetings and Blessings!

Being that we now stand in a situation of great pain, for we have [still] not merited to see the face of our holy Rebbe, I thought that the time has come to arouse the hearts and open the minds in order to understand the deep matters that are [addressed] in the teachings of our Rabbeim.

We now find ourselves in the time close to Lag B’Omer, and when we study the Rebbe’s talks we find a wondrous thing regarding Lag B’Omer: In general Lag B’Omer is a unique festival, in that it is connected to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochei, about whom it is said “Who is the countenance of the Lord? This is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochei.” The Rebbe gave us a special enthusiasm for peace and unity through the directives he issued in connection to Lag B’Omer [and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochei, specifically].

All matters of peace and unity [on a communal scale] have a profound effect on our situation, aside from the fact that peace and unity in a simple [and more individual] sense gives us peace of mind, something which is in-itself an important thing. Indeed, it is one of the most fundamental needs of a human being.

Being that we are now already sixteen years after [the events of] the third of Tammuz [5754 - 1994] and the world is submerged in pain, and with our eyes we do not see the miracles and the wondrous things that the Rebbe gives us, I extend to you my blessing that we should see in a revealed and obvious sense the miracles of the Rebbe, and we should merit to see his holy face directly and immediately now!

Your student and your friend,

Nosson Notte

Miami Beach, Fl.