4876 —בית הספר לנערות במלבורן – בסמיכות לביה"ס לנערים אבל לא באותו הבנין, וכתות נוספות בהיי סקול

B"H, 26 Marcheshvan, 5717

Brooklyn.

The Rabbi and Chassid, G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, occupied with communal needs, our teacher Rabbi Yehoshua Shneur Zalman, may he live

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After the long interval, your letter of 16 Cheshvan was received, with your question asking me to clarify my intention regarding new buildings and the purchase of houses, and in particular the house of Mrs. Hertz, may she live, which is about half an hour's walk from the building of the Yeshivah Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch in Melbourne.

It is understood that in general it is proper for the girls' school to be closer to the boys' school (but not in the same building; for even with a separate entrance it can be permitted only with difficulty, since even then there is, after all, mixing before the start of classes and at their end — though in a pressing situation it may be permitted — whereas if it is on another street, that is, so that they do not see each other at those hours, that is the ideal). The advantage of being close is that a number of things fall into the category of "a lamp for one is a lamp for a hundred,"^[1] such as office work, examinations, supervision and so on. But it is understood that in a pressing situation this too may be given up, especially since there is surely a telephone, and then the distance is not such a hindrance.

As for what you write about additional high school classes: you yourself conclude that this will be on the agenda in another three years. Your approach in general is correct, namely, to add only those classes in which compulsory schooling under the laws of the state ends, as opposed to the classes after that — and, as you write, this involves great expense, especially since it is not known how many will want to continue their studies when the law does not require it of them.

Surely you are making a plan for how to make proper use of the month of Kislev and its festivals for the strengthening and spreading of Chabad matters in Melbourne, and of the Chabad educational institutions in particular.

With blessing for good news.

Publisher's notes

Rabbi Yehoshua Shneur Zalman: Serebryanski, Melbourne. Other letters to him — above, vol. 13, letter 4456, and the sources noted there; below, letter 4912, letter 4986, letter 5077.

Notes

[1] "A lamp for one is a lamp for a hundred" (נר לאחד נר למאה): Shabbos 122a — what is done for one serves many at no extra cost.

Summary

This letter explains that the girls' school in Melbourne should ideally be near the boys' school, for shared office work, exams and supervision, but not in the same building; in need even distance can be accepted. High school classes should be added only up to the end of compulsory schooling. Kislev should be well used.