842 —העברת הישיבה וחיזוק לימוד החסידות

B"H, 7th of Chanukah, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Maharash"ch

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Enclosed is the booklet for Chanukah, whose publication was delayed due to many preoccupations.

Regarding your request for my opinion about your plan to relocate the yeshiva from Tel Aviv to Lod—your reasoning being that the noise of Tel Aviv disturbs diligent study and that time is lost moving between houses—I think this is very appropriate. Many times I heard from my father-in-law, the previous Rebbe of blessed memory, about the difficulty of running a yeshiva in a large city. He greatly praised the advantage of the yeshiva in Lubavitch, where it was central and other city matters did not distract even the youngest students, let alone the older ones—unlike New York. All the more so in your current situation, there is hope for great benefit if the yeshiva is in a place where it is central and other matters are secondary or irrelevant.

However, I think it is necessary to leave a class or division in Tel Aviv as well. This will serve as an intermediary and conduit to more easily draw children from Tel Aviv and its surroundings to join the yeshiva in Lod. Of course, this is only my response based on your description of local conditions; perhaps there are other factors regarding place, people, or time that you have not informed me about—these must be considered.

Regarding your question about studying Chassidus—I cannot elaborate without knowing more details about the students’ abilities and qualities of those who influence them. But there are two general points in learning Toras haChassidus that I believe should be present in all Lubavitcher yeshivas: (a) Students should be prepared so that within a short time each can repeat maamarim of Chassidus in a way that impacts listeners—including those not intellectually inclined toward Chassidus; (b) A broader knowledge of Toras haChassidus. Unfortunately, there is a great lack in this second point—even among students who have learned Chassidus for years; they know some topics deeply but know very few topics overall. If I had the ability, I would institute everywhere not only analytical study but also a special class for covering material (even though Chabad generally demands depth), simply to know more topics.

I send regards to your entire group—may you succeed in influencing your students and continue increasing the light of Chassidus outward. This is also the theme of Chanukah: lighting up with increasing light and holiness while diminishing darkness on the opposing side; lighting drives out negative influences from public spaces as explained in Chassidus. In our times this is accomplished by spreading its wellsprings outward.

Blessings and regards,
M. Schneerson

Certainly inform me with good news about your grandchildren’s wellbeing.
The pidyon nefesh—I read at the Ohel—on Erev Rosh Chodesh.

Summary

The Rebbe supports relocating yeshivas for focused learning but advises maintaining outreach connections. He stresses both depth and breadth in studying Chassidus so students can share its teachings widely—a lesson especially relevant during Chanukah’s theme of spreading light.