The Rebbe's Advice #828 - Why is a Sefer better than photocopies?

In memory of Rabbi Gavriel & Rebbetzin Rivkah Holtzberg HYD - Shluchim to Mumbai, India

The Rebbe encouraged the learning of the Alter Rebbe’s chasidus sefer, Torah Ohr to be learnt each Shabbos. The gabbaim of “770” photocopied the weekly section and distributed it on Friday night to people in “770.” They notified Rabbi Hodakov about this. Rabbi Hodakov notified the Rebbe. The Rebbe commented, they should distribute the sefer (Torah Ohr) rather than photocopies. The reason is because the costs are less and surely there won’t be the bother of making the copies. Additionally, sometimes one needs to research some other discourse to understand the weekly section. If he has the entire sefer he can do so; if he only has the photocopied section he cannot do so.

It’s more respectful to have a sefer than a photocopy. The concern that the photocopies will be left around after Shabbos, (which is disrespectful) will be avoided by having a complete printed sefer.

^{Compiled by Rabbi Chaim Dalfin}