2990 —בחירת הדרך ושער מיוחד לעבודת ה' של כל אדם

B"H, 1st of MarCheshvan, 5715. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter from Motzaei Rosh HaShanah—which arrived somewhat late—and it is surprising that since then there have been no further letters from you. Surely Haraha"g etc. Reb Dovid Chanzin has already conveyed my repeated request to all the teachers in the Reshet, especially and certainly to those who founded Agudas Yisrael schools whose teachers gave up twenty percent of their salary throughout last year. Therefore, teachers in the institutions of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, should add at least twenty percent of their time—each according to their abilities—to teaching in the school where they serve.

Regarding what you wrote about guidance etc., this is unfortunately common among many Jews—even among Anash—that most want to be guided, but in most cases only in the way and matters they themselves choose. I suspect that this is also true regarding you. My intention is clear, as hinted at in Iggeres HaKodesh and explained elsewhere in Chassidus: every Jew has a mitzvah or matter that serves as a gate—a path through which all his Torah and mitzvos ascend, and through which all influences from Above are drawn down to him. This gate may not necessarily be a fundamental mitzvah or even one of the more severe ones—in the division between severe and light mitzvos—as is evident from our Sages' example: 'Your father was especially careful with tzitzis.' In this mitzvah-gate one must be especially careful and meticulous.

Regarding you and your fellow teachers and administrators in the Reshet: in these times your gate is your activity and involvement in the Reshet. Therefore, when you excel ever more in this area, you will draw down success in your spiritual matters—and consequently also in your material matters. Additionally—as I wrote in my general letter (where I did not touch on this point but rather on the mutual benefit between those who work for a livelihood and their reward)—in this letter addressed specifically to you, this point is even more important and relevant: it serves to arouse not only your revealed powers but also your hidden ones to apply them to matters of the Reshet. I hope you will find suitable words to explain this to your wife and all your fellow teachers and members of administration. Words that come from the heart enter the heart.

From this it is also understood—the answer to your question about withdrawing from public activity—that based on what was said above, such an idea is out of place.

Regarding moving your residence to Kfar Chabad: for now it does not seem appropriate because efforts should be made that those settling there are people who will engage in agriculture. For you and your wife there is greater benefit from involvement in education.

With blessings for success in all of the above and for good news regarding all these matters,

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that everyone has a unique spiritual gateway—a particular mitzvah or area—through which their service ascends and blessings flow down. He encourages dedication beyond personal preference, especially for educators whose main path now lies within their educational work.