6555 —תכנון תקציב מציאותי, פנייה לראש העיר, והוספת שעה לתפלה

B"H, 14th of Marcheshvan, 5719

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your express letter of the 9th of Cheshvan: surely in the meantime the answer to your previous letter has also been received, in which some of the points you write about have already been answered.

And in general, I have already told ... , may he live, that no institution or organization whatsoever can conduct its work properly if it has no estimate at all regarding the undertaking it is beginning, but only figures plucked from the air, and right at the start of the work comes up with new proposals that depend on great expenses, whether in money, or in people and energy, or in all of them together. Even the mightiest governments, which have reserves, draw up a set budget for the whole year, only adding a note that ten (or so) percent beyond the budget may be spent on new matters that cannot be estimated in advance; which is not so when the budget is not in that proportion, but miles off from one end to the other.

It is understood that I do not mean to come with complaints about the past, especially since now is not the time for that, regarding a matter they have already entered into; my intention is regarding the present and the future, and as I wrote in my previous letter, at the very least a budget is necessary, with an estimate that is nearly certain, and with the knowledge in advance that if they err in it there will be nothing with which to cover the error. On the other hand, to guard against this by exaggerating the estimate, it is possible that such exaggeration would cancel the very beginning of the undertaking.

As to what you write about a letter to the mayor: for a number of reasons it has not been the practice in such a case, that is to say, for the beginning and initiative to be in the manner described. But there is room for it after they have come to speak with him, and they report on the conversation and what was said, and if there is room to respond to it in a suitable form...

As to what you write about an added hour for prayer, which you introduced although not everyone is pleased with it: since several days have already passed since its introduction, if the matter holds, it is understood that it should be continued, and when you let me know how things stand, perhaps there will be room for a short letter to all those who volunteered of their time for this.

With blessing for success in your holy work.

Summary

This letter teaches that an organization must work from a realistic, near-certain budget, as even mighty governments do, rather than from figures plucked from the air or from estimates so inflated that they prevent the start. It advises against initiating contact with the mayor by letter before meeting him, and encourages continuing the added hour of prayer.