1670 —בנוגע לחקירת גרים ומתן שמות יהודיים בקהילה

B"H, 1st of Tammuz, 5712.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter from the 23rd of Sivan, in which you write that your work in the field of education, especially in spreading Torah, is progressing and you see success in this—thank G‑d. May it be the will of Hashem that as our Sages say, "whoever increases is given more"—meaning that as you increase your efforts, from Above they will increase your success in these matters and consequently also in your and your wife's personal affairs.

Regarding what you wrote about converts whom you suspect may have converted not according to the laws of Shulchan Aruch, and you ask my opinion whether to investigate this: It is indeed proper to do so, provided it is done discreetly and privately so that it is not known that you are conducting such investigations. Surely a way can be found for this.

Regarding what you wrote that there are several people in your community who have forgotten their Jewish names and you wish to give them a new name during a Mi Sheberach or similar: You do not write what compels you to enter into this matter. Surely at least for some of them it is possible to find out—either from their birth certificate (birth certificate) or from their parents—the name they were given at birth or at their circumcision.

Enclosed is a copy of my letter (1) for Chag HaShavuos (2) regarding the summer vacation period, which will surely be beneficial for your environment and those influenced by you.

Summary

The Rebbe advises handling sensitive issues like questionable conversions with discretion and encourages verifying original Jewish names before assigning new ones. He emphasizes careful action and seeking ways to benefit both individuals and the broader community.