821 —חיזוק מוסדות עם יושר חסידי

B"H, 11 Kislev, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z etc. Michael

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Your letter from Wednesday of Parshas Toldos was received, and in response:

(a) I was pleased to hear that all obstacles and delays have been removed. Certainly you will do your utmost so that both Haraha"g etc. Toledano and the activist Mr. Yosef Bardega will both participate in our work there, and I rely on your understanding to manage matters appropriately.

(b) Regarding the name of the institutions: I have already conveyed that there should be a general name "Oholei Yosef Yitzchak," and beneath it (in a semi-circle?) "In his name and under the leadership of the Lubavitcher Rebbe." Besides this general name, there should be a specific name relevant to the particular institution to which the letterheads pertain, such as Teachers' Seminary, Yeshivah, Tiferes Bachurim, etc. I hope there will not be difficulties agreeing to this wording; in any case, the word "Lubavitch" must appear in the letterhead format.

(b) Regarding your note that a committee of five people has been formed and henceforth requests will be made through this committee: it is self-evident that things must be arranged so that the spirit of the institutions is preserved in its purity and no foreign influence enters them.

...Regarding your question about participation in girls' education: it is difficult from here to give an opinion on specific details. The general point is that among Sephardim there are many matters of modesty concerning women as well as girls and young children which they have accepted for generations. Therefore, regarding their daughters' education as well, one must be especially careful not to give the impression that since Lubavitch arrived in their community they have gone from stricter holiness to lesser holiness. Thus it is understood that first one should inquire among their pious elders about their ancestral customs in these matters; even if changes are needed, any change should be made so as not to create slander that they have descended from greater holiness.

I am hurrying to send this letter; I will answer other matters G‑d willing in my next letter.

With abundant blessings for success,
M. Schneerson

Just now I received lists of students from Meknes and Midelt (for the latter, mothers' names were not recorded). However, I still do not have mothers' names for the teachers. G‑d willing, I will read them at the Ohel at Rosh Hashanah for Chassidus as appropriate.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that institutional strength depends on preserving Chassidic values and traditions while being sensitive to local customs—especially regarding modesty—so changes are made with care and respect for established practices.