5453 —עידוד להמשך לימודים במוסדות חב"ד

Letters of the Rebbe, Volume 15 — Letter #5453
B”H, 16 Iyar, 5716 (April 27, 1956)
Brooklyn, New York

Shalom U’Vracha,

After a long interruption, the Rebbe writes that he received the recipient’s letter from Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh. The Rebbe’s wording emphasizes the lengthy gap in correspondence, subtly encouraging more regular updates and communication.

The Rebbe responds to the report that students from the Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchak school system in Eretz Yisroel continued their education in Chabad institutions after completing their earlier studies. The Rebbe expresses great satisfaction with this development and blesses that it should continue “be’sha’ah tovah u’mutzlachas” — in a good and successful manner.

The Rebbe blesses the teachers and educators, both men and women, that they should see abundant fruits from their labor. Their efforts should produce a generation among the Jewish people that will be immediately recognizable as “zera beirach Hashem” — a seed blessed by Hashem. The students should become living examples of the values and education they received through the Chabad school system.

Seeing the positive results of their work, namely that students continue further within Chabad institutions, should itself provide additional strength and encouragement. The Rebbe writes that this success should inspire all those involved in the Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchak network in Eretz Yisroel to continue “from strength to strength” in their holy work.

The Rebbe explains that when a person adds even slightly in their efforts below, Hashem responds with blessings from Above in a vastly greater and incomparable measure. The Rebbe cites the verse from the blessings in Parshas Bechukosai:

“Five of you will pursue one hundred, and one hundred of you will pursue ten thousand.”

Rashi explains that the increase is not merely proportional. If five can pursue one hundred, then one hundred should seemingly pursue only two thousand. Yet the Torah says ten thousand, teaching that when many people join together in Torah and mitzvos, the resulting blessing and success increase exponentially and beyond all natural calculation.

The Rebbe applies this idea to the holy work of education. The more students reached and influenced through Torah and Chassidus, the greater and more unlimited the success granted from Heaven.

The Rebbe further writes that it gave him pleasure to read at the conclusion of the letter that the recipient and his wife were witnessing Hashem’s blessings in the growth and development of their children. The Rebbe notes that Hashem rewards “measure for measure,” but many times over, and expresses his satisfaction at hearing this good news.

Regarding the recipient’s inquiry about accepting a teaching position in another educational institution, the Rebbe answers that one should first seek opportunities within the Chabad educational network itself — specifically within the institutions of the Reshet. Only if no such possibility exists may one consider a position in another institution that educates authentically “al taharas hakodesh.”

However, the Rebbe strongly emphasizes that such outside work must not affect in any way whatsoever the recipient’s dedication and involvement in the development of the Reshet and the activities of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad. The Rebbe stresses this point emphatically, insisting that there should be absolutely no weakening in his commitment to Chabad’s educational work.

Finally, the Rebbe writes that he certainly utilized the opportunity of Lag B’Omer and is preparing appropriate plans in connection with the upcoming Yom Tov of Shavuos. The Rebbe concludes with blessings for success and for good news in all the matters discussed, both communal and personal.

This letter highlights the Rebbe’s deep emphasis on Chinuch, the importance of strengthening Chabad educational institutions, and the immeasurable blessings that come through dedicated work in spreading Torah and Yiddishkeit.