3485 —התחלת בית כנסת ובית מדרש בשכונה יהודית מתפתחת

B"H, 14 Iyar, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n ossek b-tzt"z ba'al middos Moreinu HaRav Dov Yehuda Shochat

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from 12 Iyar, I enjoyed reading that you are beginning with enthusiasm to establish a shul and study hall in the part of Toronto that is heavily populated by Jews. The instruction of our holy leaders is already well known—my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe—of blessed memory: 'The world says one cannot go over obstacles; I say one must go over them from the outset.' It is already stated: 'Open your mouth wide and I will fill it,' and 'the desire of the L‑rd will succeed in His hand,' to increase Torah and glorify it, together with the pillar of service of the heart—which is prayer—a shul and study hall together, as our Sages said on the verse 'The L‑rd loves the gates of Zion.'

And according to our Sages' teaching that anyone who takes a coin from Iyov is blessed because he was a wholehearted man who feared G‑d (Bava Basra 15b), enclosed is a donation from one of my father-in-law's funds for use toward your initial payments. May it be G‑d's will that you have complete success and heavenly assistance.

With blessings for success in all the above.

Summary

The Rebbe encourages boldness when undertaking communal projects like founding a shul and study hall. He emphasizes relying on Divine assistance, combining Torah learning with heartfelt prayer, and provides practical support along with his blessings for success.