Editing Moshe Feinstein (section)

==== Personal Matters - 1976-1980 ====
In personal matters as well, Rav Feinstein received from the Rebbe. On Purim 1976, the Rebbe spoke about every boy from bar mitzvah age beginning to put on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin. Rav Tzvi Hirsch Spritzer, who had a prior connection with Rav Feinstein, decided to approach him and discuss the matter. Rav Feinstein showed interest in the Rebbe's words and told him that indeed until age eighteen he had put on Rabbeinu Tam tefillin and stopped for various reasons. Now, after hearing the Rebbe's words, he was interested in starting to put them on again, provided that the Rebbe would choose the sofer who would write the tefillin and that it would be in the "Beis Yosef" script. When the Rebbe heard about this, he requested through his secretary, Rav Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov, that the sofer Rav Eliezer Zirkind go the next day to Rav Feinstein's home to see exactly which tefillin he wanted. Rav Zirkind went to Rav Feinstein's home, who instructed him regarding the parshiyos and requested to see them before they were inserted into the batim. On Erev Shabbos Parshas Shekalim 1980, he began putting on the tefillin.

The Rebbe referenced his halachic rulings several times. A notable example appears in the Rebbe's response regarding a husband entering the delivery room, where after the halachic discussion the Rebbe concludes, "Is it really not known that there is a published psak din letter about this from Rav Feinstein?!"

Rabbi Feinstein's descendants write: "The Lubavitcher Rebbe was especially close to our teacher [Rabbi Moshe Feinstein] and would refer many halachic questions to him."

Similarly, Rabbi Feinstein would refer difficult deliberations on fundamental matters to the Rebbe, such as intermarriage and matters of conversion.

In a response from 1974, the Rebbe directed a woman who had a halachic question regarding a get to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, noting: "...and Rabbi Feinstein answers all who ask - even when he doesn't know them (and sometimes even by telephone) and it remains confidential, of course." (Igros Kodesh Vol. 29, p. 269, Letter 11,261)

In a letter to Rabbi Moshe Dovid Lieberman (see his entry), the Rebbe writes: "I received your letter... and I was pleased to hear that you received semicha from HaRav HaGaon etc. Rav Moshe Feinstein."

In Nissan 1978, approaching the inauguration of the "Beis Menachem" synagogue in Kfar Chabad built in the Rebbe's name, a letter was received from Rabbi Feinstein: "For the inauguration day of the 'Beis Menachem' synagogue in Kfar Chabad named after the Lubavitcher Rebbe shlita. We send you our warm blessings, may this house be a dwelling place, a place of song and prayer, Torah and fear of Heaven. Together with the tens of thousands of the House of Israel, we pray for the well-being and complete health of the Lubavitcher Rebbe shlita, may Hashem lengthen his days and years pleasantly."

In a letter to American Jewish author Herman Wouk (letter in English from 4 Iyar 1985 - printed in Hebrew translation in the book 'Guide for the Perplexed Generation' Vol. 2 p. 140), the Rebbe referred to a biographical detail in Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's life:

"...I mentioned the famous ruling of prominent rabbis and roshei yeshiva, one of whom, by the way, is Rabbi Moshe Feinstein shlita, who for many years before coming to the United States, held a position as rabbi in a Chassidic community in Russia as a Chassidic rabbi. When he arrived in New York, his community members included Chassidim and Misnagdim and various other Jewish groups. When it came to customs, he instructed members of certain groups to follow their specific customs. But when it came to matters of Kiddush Hashem, or its opposite, there could be no flexibility, nor deviation, especially given that it would be interpreted publicly, as mentioned above."

In 1980, he issued a letter regarding Shleimus Ha'aretz. On another occasion, when he heard about a certain rabbi in Britain who expressed that according to halacha there was room to discuss a Palestinian state with its capital in the Old City of Jerusalem, he said: "It's hard to believe such a statement was made by someone serving as a rabbi." In 1983, opinions were expressed by kippah-wearing individuals against Jewish settlement in territories captured in the Six-Day War. Rabbi Feinstein issued a letter encouraging settlement there.

Rabbi Feinstein often spoke about our era being before the revelation of Moshiach. Once when there were rumors that a "Para Aduma" was born in Eretz Yisroel and many saw this as a hint to the imminent redemption, Rabbi Moshe responded saying: "The cow needs to be at least two years old to be able to sprinkle from its ashes, and we are awaiting Moshiach to come immediately! Can we wait two years to become pure? Clearly, we will find an older cow and won't have to wait." R' Shachna Zahn testifies that Rabbi Feinstein told him that Moshiach is certainly already here, but for now is performing the actions needed during galus and afterward will be revealed to all.

On 7 Adar 1986, during his final days of illness before his passing, Tehillim was recited at 770 for his recovery under the instruction of the Rebbe's secretary Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner.