3012 —על בניית מוסדות תורה והימנעות מפוליטיקה בהנהגת ישיבה

B"H, 11 Menachem Av, 5715. Brooklyn.

Harav vavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z Morenu Harav Mordechai Ritch

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter—without a date of writing—and I was pleased to read that you are beginning to energetically participate in the affairs of Yeshivas Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch in Melbourne. Hopefully, acting energetically and with the necessary effort will bring the blessing of Hashem and success. If at all times and in all places it was necessary to have a Torah center connected with fear of Heaven, how much more so in our time and in such a place where the Jewish community is just beginning to grow; one must invest the greatest efforts and firmly impress upon mind and heart the saying of our Sages: 'Whoever sustains one Jewish soul is as if he sustained an entire world.'

In earlier times, a cheder or yeshiva for a child would save him from becoming ignorant and would make him into someone knowledgeable in Torah or even a scholar; but unfortunately, nowadays we must think about saving children so that they remain Jews. In this, one cannot rely on the environment alone; rather, we must build fortresses for them—a cheder, a yeshiva—which provide the guarantee that they will remain Jews. Any further elaboration on this is surely unnecessary.

Regarding your question about which sector to draw into the finance committee being established to support and expand the yeshiva: this depends on the character and ability of each individual involved, so it is difficult to give a general answer. What is necessary is to avoid giving the yeshiva any political color or partisan character, because learning Torah is not connected with politics or parties. This has been one of the foundations of the success of Lubavitch institutions—they have always been above party lines. When one contemplates deeply that Torah was given simultaneously to all six hundred thousand Jews—from the greatest to the smallest—and that all heard together the commandments 'Anochi Hashem Elokecha' (I am Hashem your G‑d), 'Zachor es Yom HaShabbos' (Remember the Sabbath day), and 'Lo Sachmod' (Do not covet), one understands that Torah is for all Jews; from 'Anochi Hashem Elokecha' one must come not only to 'Zachor es Yom HaShabbos' but also to 'Lo Sachmod.' Likewise, one cannot guard against 'Lo Sachmod' unless it is based on 'Anochi Hashem Elokecha,' and unless all efforts are made to fulfill 'Zachor es Yom HaShabbos.' Therefore, no extraneous matters should be introduced here—sometimes people are deterred by these external issues, whether party or politics—and as a result lose the opportunity to connect with Toras Chaim u'Mitzvoseha.

You surely remember our conversation, and I hope it is unnecessary to repeat my request and encouragement for you to act in matters concerning Yeshivas Oholei Yosef Yitzchak according to all your abilities and use your influence to its maximum in this matter. Only following our Sages' saying "We only urge those who are already eager," do I again encourage you in this matter so it will be added into your work.

With blessings for success in all of the above and in your personal matters awaiting good news.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that building strong Torah institutions requires dedication free from political influence. Every effort should focus on ensuring Jewish continuity through education while keeping yeshivas inclusive and above partisan divides.