Two pages (40 lines), draft of a letter, Chassidic explanation of Aggadot of the sages, handwritten by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn - the Lubavitcher Rebbe. [Brooklyn, New York, 1950s].
This leaf contains an original explanation handwritten by the rebbe (in pencil), in which he elucidates the difference between the saying of the Tanna Nachum Ish Gam Zu: "This too is for the good" (Taanit 21a), and that of his disciple R. Akiva: "Whatever G-d does is for the good" (Berachot 60b).
The explanation was given over by the rebbe at length in a Hitvaadut on 20th Av 1951 (see: Torat Menachem, III, p. 268 onwards; Likutei Sichot, II, p. 394 onwards), and mentioned briefly in several of his letters (Igrot Kodesh, VI, p. 231; IX, p. 72, and others), however this is the draft prepared by the rebbe, containing an outline of the explanation. It opens with: "In response to their question", indicating that this was written as a draft of a letter.
This manuscript was published in the Tzaddik LaMelech anthology (Kfar Chabad, 1993), III, p. 129, with the images of these pages (pp. 130-131).
A scrap of paper handwritten by the rebbe is enclosed, with several unpublished notes concerning the letter (see Hebrew description).
[2] leaves. Larger leaf: 14X15.5 cm (written on both sides). Enclosed scrap of paper: 5X14 cm. Good condition. Stains and folding marks. Staple on corner of larger leaf, not affecting text. Small marginal tear to small leaf, not affecting text.
Drafts of lectures or letters of the Lubavitcher rebbe are extremely rare.