6799 —חשיבות המשך החינוך היהודי אחרי בר מצוה

B"H, 6th of Nissan, 5719. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I am responding to your letter from 4/31. At an auspicious time, all the matters you wrote about will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal, for each person according to their needs as you wrote.

I am surprised that, as it appears from your letter, you think that raising good Jewish children can be satisfied with sending them to a Talmud Torah and celebrating a Bar Mitzvah. Obviously, this is far from sufficient. Jewish education must continue after Bar Mitzvah—it is no less important than before Bar Mitzvah, and even more so. Therefore, one must learn in a yeshivah, and a girl should study in a Beis Rivkah School or Beis Yaakov. Through this, many difficulties and troubles in later years are avoided—for both the children and yourselves.

No matter how strongly this is expressed in words, it is not enough compared to the serious and utmost necessity of continuing Jewish education as mentioned above.

Since you did not mention what kind of education your son and daughter are receiving, I feel it is my duty to emphasize what was said above—and even more strongly and seriously.

When one truly desires this, one influences oneself, one's children, and one's husband shiy'. May Hashem Yisbarach help that the merit of your actions in this matter—influencing your children shiy' to maintain and continue their Jewish education—will stand by you and your husband shiy', so you may have true Jewish nachas from all of them together.

With blessings for good news and for a kosher and joyous Pesach,
In the name of the Rebbe shlita,
Mazkir

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that true Jewish education does not end at Bar Mitzvah but must continue through adolescence for both boys and girls. Ensuring ongoing learning in proper institutions brings lasting blessings for children and parents alike.