1985 —אחריות וזכות בהנהגת יוזמות עלית הנוער

B"H, 21 Teves, 5713.

Brooklyn.

Mr. Moshe Kol.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet you face to face and discuss with you issues concerning an important segment of our people. I especially enjoyed hearing that you see in the various fields of the Chabad movement in Eretz HaKodesh a place for joint work and significant assistance from your side. The matters are: (a) The matter of an educational institution with branches for children rescued from missionary activity, which we now have the possibility to arrange according to letters I just received. According to your words, if the building and personnel are suitable, then the offices under your management will take upon themselves half of the financial expenses involved in supporting such an institution, and the other half will surely be provided by government offices with whom you are negotiating this matter. As per your suggestion, I am writing to my representatives in Eretz HaKodesh to approach your deputy Mr. Yaari, who by then will already have instructions from you regarding this.

(b) Regarding students from our educational institutions in Morocco who wish to immigrate to Eretz HaKodesh with our consent—if we assure them they can continue their education as they wish and as their parents wish—you told me it is self-understood there will be no coercion here, and they can continue their education in whichever stream they declare at the Aliyah office in Morocco. Moreover, these immigrant students will receive not only immigration expenses but also all their needs in Eretz HaKodesh until they reach age seventeen from the Aliyat HaNoar fund.

(c) Regarding establishing an agricultural school in Kfar Chabad Sfarieh, which according to negotiations conducted will be realized with help from your office, Aliyat HaNoar—your estimate is that construction will take about half a year if it is a prefab building or somewhat longer if it is a regular building. As stated, Aliyat HaNoar will provide the necessary funds for this institution’s building on condition that half of it is considered a loan for which I am responsible for repayment over five years. Payment times, methods, and details will be determined further through negotiations between my representative Rabbi Gorodetzky and you or your representative. I’ll add another detail: as I said, I am ready to discuss similar institutions beyond this agricultural one since I believe there will be genuine demand for agricultural studies among us. You replied that you want to wait and see how the first building works out before considering more such institutions.

I want to emphasize again that my satisfaction was not only from what was discussed regarding our own matters but mainly from the general attitude reflected in your words about what you called "joint work" before us. This gives me strong hope for truly positive results that will satisfy both you and us together.

Before concluding my letter, allow me to stress a general point connected to what you told me about your hometown and lineage: Everything is by Divine Providence—and certainly matters affecting a wide circle or even all of society. Regarding what was mentioned—your role in leading Aliyat HaNoar—it is clear that being granted such ability and influence places extra responsibility upon you.

It is well known how our Torah generally—and Chassidus especially—regards youth’s special importance: every event, even small or tiny ones occurring in children’s lives can affect their spirit, character, and nature throughout their lives. There is a well-known analogy about a seed: even a slight scratch later causes great harm to the tree; whereas that same scratch on an adult tree leaves only a small mark at its spot.

But along with this great responsibility placed on someone able to shape youth’s lives significantly comes also an extra merit: Heaven has entrusted him with power to influence hundreds or even thousands of Jewish boys and girls—each one considered as precious as an "only child" beloved by our Father in Heaven (as taught by the Baal Shem Tov whose saying we heard many times from my father-in-law).

Together with responsibility and merit come also talents and strengths given from Above so one can fulfill this role completely; only so it should not be "bread of shame," free choice is given whether to use these powers fully for good purpose—or G‑d forbid otherwise.

I conclude my letter wishing you succeed in carrying out as best as possible both the role and privilege given regarding those whom you can benefit materially and spiritually alike. Our Torah assures us that fulfilling communal duty brings blessing and success also in private matters concerning oneself and all one’s own.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that leadership over youth carries immense responsibility but also unique merit; using one's abilities wisely brings blessing both communally and personally.