6799 —החינוך היהודי חייב להימשך אחרי בר מצוה: ישיבה לבן ובית רבקה לבת

B"H, 6 Nissan, 5719
Brooklyn.

Brachah v'Shalom!

In reply to your letter of 4/13^[1].

At an auspicious time, all those about whom you write will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of sainted memory^[2], each one for what he needs, according to what you write.

I am surprised that, as it appears from your letter, you think that in raising good Jewish children one can be content with having them learn in a Talmud Torah and making a bar mitzvah. It is self-understood that this is very far from enough. Jewish education must continue after bar mitzvah as well – it is no less important than before bar mitzvah, and even more so. Therefore one must learn in a yeshivah, and a girl must learn in a Beth Rivkah school or Bais Yaakov^[3]. Through this one removes many difficulties and troubles in the later years, both for the children and for oneself. And however strongly one may express this in words, it is not enough in comparison with the serious, supremely important necessity of continuing Jewish education, as said above.

And since you do not mention what kind of education your boy^[4] and girl are receiving, I consider it my duty to stress what was said above, and still more strongly and seriously. And when one wants it in earnest, one influences oneself, the children, and one's husband, may he live long^[5].

May G‑d, blessed be He, help, that the merit of what you will do in this, as said above – influencing the children, may they live long, to keep up and continue Jewish education – will stand by you and your husband, may he live long, so that together you will have Jewish nachas from all of them.

With blessings for good news and for a kosher and happy Pesach,

On behalf of the Rebbe shlita^[6],
Secretary

Notes

1. 4/13 (4/13): 13 April 1959, a Monday, 5 Nissan 5719 – the day before this letter was written.

2. My father-in-law, the Rebbe, of sainted memory (כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): הק' = הקדוש, "holy". כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר = כבוד קדושת מורי וחמי אדונינו מורנו ורבנו, "my father-in-law, the Rebbe", the Previous Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn; זצוקללה"ה = זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, "may the memory of the righteous and holy one be for a blessing, for the life of the World to Come"; נבג"מ = נשמתו בגנזי מרומים, "his soul is in the hidden treasuries on High"; זי"ע = זכותו יגן עלינו, "may his merit protect us". The Rebbe will mention all the people she writes about, each for what he needs, in his prayer at the holy resting place of the Previous Rebbe, at an auspicious time.

3. A Beth Rivkah school or Bais Yaakov (בית רבקה סקול אדער בית יעקב): Beth Rivkah is the girls' school in Brooklyn founded by the Previous Rebbe (COLlive); Bais Yaakov is the name of other girls' schools. Girls, too, cannot make do with elementary schooling, and must continue to learn in a girls' school in the spirit of Torah.

4. Boy (באי): The English word "boy", written in Yiddish letters: her son.

5. May he live long (שי'): שי' = שיחי' (שיחיה), "may he live".

6. On behalf of the Rebbe shlita (בשם כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א): כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א = כבוד קדושת אדוננו מורנו ורבנו שליט"א, "His Holiness, our master, teacher and Rebbe, may he live long and good days, amen". This letter was written and signed by the secretary in the Rebbe's name.

Summary

Writing through his secretary, the Rebbe tells a mother who thought a Talmud Torah and a bar mitzvah were enough that this is very far from enough: Jewish education must continue after bar mitzvah, the boy in a yeshivah and the girl in a Beth Rivkah or Bais Yaakov school. Earnest effort will influence her husband and children too, and the merit will bring them Jewish nachas together.