1414 —על בשר כשר, חינוך, וחשיבות ההשגחה

B"H, 15 Shevat 5712.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vaharaha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z etc. Ephraim Eliezer Yales

Shalom u'Vrachah!

It is with pleasure that I hereby acknowledge receipt of your two letters from the 7th of Shevat and from Parshas Beshalach. It is unfortunate that you could not attend the farbrengen on the second yahrzeit of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal nishmaso Eden. Certainly, everything depends on mazal—even a Sefer Torah. Note what our Sages say regarding whether a Sefer Torah or a Torah scholar is greater (see Kiddushin 33b; see there in Ran. Makkos 22b; see there in Chiddushei Aggados), and also what our Sages say at the beginning of Bereishis Rabbah: that the thoughts of Israel preceded everything (even Torah), as it says in the Torah: Daber el Bnei Yisrael etc. ("Speak to the Children of Israel," Bamidbar 9:1).

I was pleased to read in your second letter that you have finally succeeded in abolishing and correcting matters regarding kosher meat. May it be G‑d's will that you will soon also succeed in correcting matters of education. As is well known, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, would say that in America there is supervision and oversight over what goes into a pot, but what goes into one's head is ownerless—anyone who wants can take for himself the title 'teacher,' 'G‑d-fearing educator,' 'pedagogue,' etc. (It is worth noting how great is the conversation of Torah scholars; even in Shas, the head is called a pot. Seemingly this can also be connected with "v'Torasecha b'soch mei'ai" [and Your Torah is within my innards], as explained in Tanya ch. 5.)

As requested, I mentioned you and your family at the resting place of my revered father-in-law on his yahrzeit. May it be G‑d's will that all prayers and requests be fulfilled through the merit of this supreme tzaddik. And may Yosef HaTzaddik—the provider for all—continue to sustain everyone.

Summary

The Rebbe highlights how both kosher food and education require careful supervision, drawing parallels between physical nourishment and spiritual growth. He encourages diligence in both areas for true communal well-being.