1536 —מימון לישיבת לוד, הקצאות הסוכנות, ותכניות בניה

B"H, 3 Iyar 5712.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 26th of Nissan, regarding your request to notify by telegram, I sent today as follows: "I was alarmed by the idea of disrupting Lod support; this letter comes with my signature." Even though an explanation seems unnecessary, I will clarify: as written in your letter, it was decided by the Agency to support the Lod Yeshiva with a sum of five thousand lira for constructing buildings for children of Aliyat HaNoar. This is from the sum of one hundred thousand lira allocated after much discussion and delay specifically for buildings for orphaned children of Aliyat HaNoar. This was a demand from the Coordinated Committee here that a special sum be set aside for this purpose. Therefore, I do not see any chance to change the purpose for which this sum was allocated; moreover, even if such a change were achieved, it could cause harm or loss—immediately or later—and justifiable complaints from other parties and yeshivot who also hope to receive support from this fund.

As for those who suggested trying to change this, surely either they do not know the details about the money or they are unconcerned about possible complaints, or they assume any complaints will be only verbal and not affect practical matters. As above, in all three points there is reason to doubt their assumptions.

b) Since there is already a promise after the visit in Lod to support you—and given that the Agency has used every pretext over two years to avoid or at least delay matters as long as possible—if changes are now attempted, I fear they will seize upon this opportunity and begin new negotiations with you. Meanwhile, it is unclear what will happen with the money. Therefore my clear opinion is that first and foremost you must safeguard the sum already allocated for its specific purpose without changing it. At the same time, efforts should be made in two areas: (a) that from this same one hundred thousand lira fund itself a larger amount than five thousand be allocated; (b) since you are promised advocacy on your behalf, it is appropriate to try to have the Agency provide funds from other sources as well for Chabad building projects—not just from this one hundred thousand obtained through our Coordinated Committee's efforts here. If these points are presented with suitable reasoning there is hope for success—especially since until now there have been no detailed plans on how to divide up the one hundred thousand lira; apparently because other parties did not have concrete plans ready.

c) If you succeed in obtaining an additional sum, then there is a choice whether it should go to Lod or Kfar Chabad. However, if it comes from within the one hundred thousand lira fund itself it is best used for buildings for Aliyat HaNoar children as above; but if it comes from other funds then it can be used for another purpose as you propose in your letter.

d) According to demands from our Coordinated Committee here—and since there has been no delay by those opposing them (the Agency representatives)—there is hope that over time more sums will be added beyond this one hundred thousand lira provided there are requests from places where Aliyat HaNoar children are present but lack suitable buildings. Therefore—as fits my previous letters urging proper efforts in absorbing immigrant children into our institutions in Eretz Yisrael—it would be worthwhile to immediately prepare detailed plans and necessary buildings for this purpose and certainly send me a copy of these plans.

e) Regarding their giving these funds as a loan: unfortunately due to weakness among party representatives here (and apparently also in Eretz Yisrael), they agreed despite my strong protest and their previous promise that they would demand fulfillment of the Agency's commitment to give these funds permanently. Nevertheless even regarding loans there are two levels: generally repayment begins five years after receipt but if the Agency sees that an institution cannot begin payments after five years they promised permission to start after ten years instead. Since our people came from behind the Iron Curtain and could not bring property with them etc., I hope you can therefore demand that loan repayments begin only after ten years.

f) I am very surprised not to hear from you about what has happened regarding Shemitah Fund money for our people—especially since according to my previous letter you know Mr. Goldman sent a telegram weeks ago (to Mr. Eshkol) about this matter. But if locally you act negligently on this issue do not expect them to initiate action.

g) I am somewhat surprised that nothing positive has yet materialized regarding "the streamless among streams." For in a letter received here we were informed that registration for next academic term begins in Sivan...

Summary

The Rebbe advises safeguarding existing allocations while seeking additional support through strategic advocacy and careful planning. He warns against risking current gains by attempting changes that may backfire or cause delays and encourages proactive preparation for future opportunities.