6693 —עצה להצרידות, הגבלת דיבור, והנהגה חינוכית

B"H, 20 Shevat, 5719.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n his work is heavenly work Aleksandr Bunin

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 25th of Teves, in which you write about your health situation—mainly regarding the hoarseness—and that you consulted doctors who found no special cause except that they prescribed rest, at least rest in the form of reduced speech. You explain and detail the particular difficulties this causes in your work and position under such a regimen.

In such a case one can say, in the style of our Sages: "Yatza Hefsedo B'Secharo" (his loss is offset by his gain), meaning that by seemingly losing temporarily (by following the above instruction), you will gain and profit many times over afterward. Surely you will not be required to refrain from speech entirely, only to reduce it. It is also worthwhile to ask the doctor you consulted about ways of speaking so that it is only "from the lips outward" (in the physical sense—not G‑d forbid in the spiritual or inner sense)—something that some speakers have tried to learn for decades, especially those whose occupation involves much speech, even among those who are healthy.

The general idea is—as per the literal meaning of the above expression—that even though speech is loud and lively, it only affects the most external organs like lips and tongue etc. Certainly in your case as well this will bring great benefit. And it can be said that even after you recover and return to full strength.

Regarding what you wrote as a complaint—why this has happened etc.—while your pain and apparent difficulties are understandable, all such complaints (apparently) are of no benefit; on the contrary—they lead to agitation and thus to sadness and discouragement etc., which slows down recovery etc.

If one wishes to find an explanation for this matter, it can be said (though obviously only as a possibility) that this is a pointed indication about the ultimate purpose in education—even if not everyone pays attention to this—that every educator's first and foremost goal should be that his student becomes someone who carries himself even in what he was educated in; achieving this goal as soon as possible (especially in basic education).

Especially regarding yourself this is even more obvious: strive so that your students pray with enthusiasm and speak about Jewish matters with enthusiasm etc., after spending only a short time under your influence—and so they become "dripping so as to cause others to drip," influencing students who joined later—while you serve mainly as an overseer supervising them all. This should suffice.

It is understood that none of this G‑d forbid justifies what happened etc.; on the contrary—one must hope that very soon you will return to full strength and work with your students as described above but through their own free choice and with true broad-mindedness.

Blessings for good news and a complete recovery,

M. Schneersohn

P.S. Surely you gathered appropriately to mark the auspicious day—the yahrzeit (10 Shevat) of my revered father-in-law, our Rebbe zatzukal nevuga"m zya"a Nasi Yisrael.

Summary

The Rebbe guides an educator facing hoarseness: follow medical advice on limiting speech while seeking ways to minimize strain; see challenges as opportunities for growth; focus on inspiring students toward independent enthusiasm for Judaism; trust in recovery ahead.