ב"ה, כ' שבט, תשי"ח
ברוקלין.
הרה"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ
מו"ה זאב שי'[1]
שלום וברכה!
במענה למכתבו בו כותב אודות הכתה שלו לאחר הצהרים, ומסיים בשאלה אם ידבר עם ההורים שלהם בהנוגע להמשך לימודם באופן המתאים ורצוי.
ומובן שפתרון הדבר ואופנו תלוי במהות ההורים, ז.א. איזוהי הדרך שיש לפעול עליהם ולא להפחידם שיאמרו שרוצים לקחת בניהם ולשלחם לעיר זרה כו' אף שכמובן ישנם הורים כאלה שאדרבה שבעים רצון מזה בידעם שזהו אשרם האמיתי של בניהם, וכיון שבטח מכיר אותם - ההורים - גם בהנוגע לחשש האמור, הרי בהתאם לזה יתעסק בזה.
בכל אופן כפי שכותב רצוי הדבר שידבר עם התלמידים בעצמם בהנוגע לזה, ומה טוב שיחפש הזדמנות מתאימה שיבקרו בברוקלין ובעת הכושר שיוכלו לשמחם ולכבדם וכו' וכמו שעשו באיזה התלמידים מבאסטאן ועד"ז מדעטראיט שבודאי יודע הפרטים בזה.
בברכת הצלחה בעבודתו בקדש מתוך בריאות הנכונה שלו ושל כל ב"ב שיחיו.
- 1 שילדקרויט, ניוהייווען.
ntroduction
In this video, the speaker discusses a significant letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, addressed to Rabbi Zeiv Shulkraut in 1958. Rabbi Shulkraut was a pioneer of the Chabad movement in America, being one of the first students of the Lubavitch Yeshiva founded in 1940. The video explores the Rebbe’s guidance on how to inspire students and their parents to pursue a higher level of Torah education without causing friction, while also sharing a miraculous personal story regarding Rabbi Shulkraut’s health and his close relationship with the Rebbe.
Transcription
The holy letters of the Rebbe, Volume 16, Letter number 6,065. Baruch Hashem, the 20th of Shevat, 5718 (1958), Brooklyn. To the Rav, the Chassid, our teacher Zeiv Shulkraut, may he live.
This Zeiv Shulkraut was actually among the first students of the Lubavitch Yeshiva when the previous Rebbe started the Yeshiva after coming to America in 1940. He was one of the very first students there. Eventually, the Rebbe sent him to Worcester and then to New Haven. He has an extensive family; he has children around the world—in Israel, Brazil, and Toronto (his daughter is a Shlucha there). One of the things he did later in life was photography. He took a lot of pictures of the Rebbe; I believe he worked as a professional photographer later on.
In 5718, while he was still in New Haven, he wrote a question to the Rebbe. He was running an afternoon school, which wasn’t a full-time Yeshiva. He was asking the Rebbe’s advice: should he talk to the parents of the students about having them continue their studies in a proper Yeshiva?
I guess he was concerned that if he pushed too hard, the parents might pull their kids out of the school. If he started saying, "Let’s go to a Yeshiva," or "We want to send your kids away," the parents might react poorly.
The Rebbe responds: "I am responding to your letter about your afternoon class. You conclude with a question: should you speak to the parents of the students about continuing their studies in a proper and desirable way?"
The Rebbe says the resolution of this question depends on who the parents are. One cannot give a blanket answer. He suggests finding the best way to influence them without scaring them. He didn’t want them to say, "Oh, they want to take our children and send them away to a strange city" (perhaps to learn at the Yeshiva in Brooklyn).
The Rebbe notes that there are some parents who would actually be very happy with this suggestion, as they would recognize it as a great fortune for their children. Since Rabbi Shulkraut knew these parents personally, the Rebbe told him to work with them in the best way he understood, based on his individual knowledge of each family.
The Rebbe continues: "Since you write that it is fitting you should speak with the students themselves as it relates to this, it would be best to find a proper opportunity for them to visit Brooklyn."
The Rebbe is teaching him how to handle outreach: invite them to visit the Rebbe in Crown Heights. "It should be at an opportune time. Make it a way that you should be able to rejoice with them and honor them. Basically, make a big deal, give them attention, and make it a happy occasion. Make the students feel good when they come here."
The Rebbe mentions that this had been done successfully before with students from Boston and Detroit. He blesses Rabbi Shulkraut for success in his holy work and for the good health of himself and his family.
Rabbi Shulkraut actually went through some serious heart operations. A Jewish heart doctor said that during one operation—this was in 1956, two years before this letter—his heart actually stopped beating twice. The doctors said there was no point in continuing the operation, but a Dr. Mendelson felt someone was pushing him to continue. Miraculously, his life was saved. The Rebbe actually sent a special thank-you letter to the doctor through Rabbi Shulkraut.
At one point shortly after this letter, on Purim of that year, the Rebbe mentioned all the names of the students who started the Yeshiva 18 years prior in 1940. The Rebbe gave them mashke (wine/spirits) and mentioned Shulkraut by name. The Rebbe then instructed them to go in a circle and dance, and the Rebbe himself got up and danced with them with a tremendous amount of joy.
Summary
The video centers on a 1958 letter where the Rebbe provides a masterclass in educational diplomacy. Rabbi Zeiv Shulkraut, an educator in New Haven, was hesitant to suggest full-time Yeshiva study to parents of his afternoon school students for fear of alienating them. The Rebbe advised a tailored approach: assess each family individually, as some would welcome the opportunity while others might be intimidated.
To bridge the gap, the Rebbe suggested bringing the students to Brooklyn for an inspiring, high-energy visit to "rejoice and honor them," using positive reinforcement to spark their interest in higher Torah study. The video concludes with a powerful anecdote about Rabbi Shulkraut’s miraculous survival during heart surgery and the Rebbe’s deep personal affection for his original American students, culminating in a joyous dance on Purim.