5849 —בירור מפורט קודם נסיעה לארצות הברית לפרנסה

B"H, 16 Marcheshvan, 5718

Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessing!

In reply to your letter of 9 Marcheshvan, in which you write about your straitened livelihood, and that you therefore intend to travel to the United States, apparently as an emissary of the Sages, collecting funds, or the like.

Now, I have seen with a number of those who came here that, may it not happen to us or to you, they were burned in a matter like this (they got themselves scalded), because they traveled here without investigating and inquiring into the conditions involved; and when they arrived here they saw that a number of details were of a kind that a refined soul can bear only with difficulty, and they did not want, and some could not even though they wanted, to lower themselves to such things. And I doubt whether they earned even the expenses of the journey.

It is understood that not all opinions are the same and not all possibilities are the same, especially since you do not set out in your letter your prospects of earning here and the connections you have. I have come only to arouse your attention, that detailed investigation and inquiry, and settled consideration a number of times, are needed before taking a step like the above, and for several reasons.

As for what you write, that you do not know how you will get out of the present distress: in a case like this, with a number of those who already traveled here, had they exerted themselves with the same firmness, to the point of devotion and giving, to broaden their situation on the spot, then, besides saving the expenses of the journey, they surely would have found a number of sources of livelihood and profit in the Holy Land, may it be built and established, and with more dignity than the matters they are occupied with here.

Surely you are preparing in good time for the days of Kislev that are coming upon us for good, in general, and especially for the festive days and the day of rest that are in it. May it be G‑d's will that it be with success, materially and spiritually.

With blessing,

In the name of the Rebbe, may he live long and good days,

Secretary

Summary

This letter cautions a man in financial straits against traveling to America to raise funds without first investigating thoroughly: many who did so came away scalded, while the same determination invested at home in the Holy Land would likely have brought a livelihood with more dignity.