3015 —דאגות על החינוך והדגשת המטרה הרוחנית

B"H, 11 MarCheshvan, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessing!

In reply to your letter of 6 Cheshvan: it is self-understood that I came with no complaint at all, especially not to your daughter, may she live. I only conveyed in speech my pain over the manner of education, which has had the effect that at so young an age they begin to think about a career, and not only think but change the order of life and education among Anash in order to resemble the assumptions of the world. According to the ruling of our Sages that twice or thrice establishes a presumption, since I saw this tendency in your daughter and also in your two sons, may they live, then it is known that "the speech of the child comes from his father."

It is also understood that I was not crying out about the past, for one does not cry out over the past. My intention was only to correct things from now on, at least so that they not place the emphasis on the idea that a person's perfection lies in having a quick reckoning and clear knowledge of how he will earn his living (which is in truth the opposite of the saying of our Sages, "אין אדם יודע במה משתכר" ["No man knows how he will earn"], and known is the Alter Rebbe's explanation that this is like the lack of knowledge about the coming of Moshiach, see Iggeres HaKodesh, section 22, and in the Alter Rebbe's words, "they were made equal to one another." It is also the opposite of the verse "לא לחכמים לחם" ["Bread does not go to the wise"], which the Sages explained even regarding livelihood. And although the Torah says "וברכך ה' אלקיך בכל אשר תעשה" ["G‑d your L‑rd will bless you in all that you do"], that one must make a vessel, it is explained that there is no contradiction in this. See the Sefer HaMitzvos of the Tzemach Tzedek, p. 106, and Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei, on the verse "וגלחה את ראשה ועשתה את צפרניה" ["She shall shave her head and do her nails"]). And when, at least from now on, your sons too will feel that the purpose in the world depends on the Infinite, Who has no limit or end, and He, may He be blessed, promises that "if you walk in My statutes," then "I will give your rains, etc.," then those hours in which your sons study, and those qualities you will seek in the proposals that will be discussed with them, will be better suited to what they need, both materially and spiritually. May G‑d grant you to see abundant Chassidic nachas from all your offspring, with peace of mind and proper health.

With blessing.

Publisher's notes

Twice or thrice (בתרי תלתא): See Yevamos 64b.

The speech of the child (שותא דינוקא): See Sukkah 56b.

No man knows (אין אדם יודע): Pesachim 54b.

Bread does not go to the wise (לא לחכמים לחם): Koheles 9:11.