6820 —המשך הלימודים כהכנה להוראה, וחידוש מסיבות השבת

B"H, 20 Nissan^[1], 5719
Brooklyn.

Brachah v'Shalom!

After a very long interruption, your letter of 9 Nissan was received, and I was pleased to read in it about your activities in organizing Shabbos gatherings, a girls' club, etc.^[2] The distress over the weakening that afterward set in in your activities, and in some of them even a stop, is understandable.

My hope is that when you bring the matter once again^[3] to the attention of N'shei uBnos Chabad, there will be a change for the better in this; for the matter is extremely important and lofty, and every effort and endeavor in it is worthwhile. May it be G‑d's will that you report good news about it.

As to what you write about the idea that for the coming new year you would go out to teach in the "Reshet"^[4], since it is hard for you to continue studying, [which requires] concentration of thought, etc.:

It is understood that this is not right at all, and precisely for the reasons you write – that you feel talent and success in this field. From this it is understood that you must prepare yourself as fully as necessary for the success of your activity. One sees tangibly that a small deficiency in the preparation brings a deficiency many times as great^[5] in the activity, the effectiveness and the benefit of the teaching; moreover, this latter deficiency concerns a great many^[6] – I mean, the whole class. Surely there is no need to elaborate on so simple a matter. I have come only to add that you should persevere in your own studies; and one sees tangibly that one succeeds in this more easily when learning as chavrusa with one or two friends.

From the above it is understood that in my opinion you should prepare as fully as necessary for the next term of study (if this requires preparation), and in any case continue studying, with the necessary energy; and G‑d, blessed be He^[7], will grant you success. It is understood that the above has no bearing on the manner and use of the coming vacation days, provided it does not affect the quality of the preparation for the next term of studies^[8].

With blessing for good news^[9] in all the above,

In the name of the Rebbe shlita^[10]

Secretary

Notes

1. 20 Nissan (כ' ניסן): 20 Nissan 5719 was a Tuesday, one of the days of Chol HaMoed Pesach.

2. Shabbos gatherings, a girls' club (מסיבות שבת, מועדון לבנות): Mesibos Shabbos are Shabbos gatherings for children; a girls' club is a circle for girls.

3. Once again (עוה"פ): עוה"פ = עוד הפעם.

4. The "Reshet" ("רשת"): ע"ד = על דבר, "about". Reshet, "network", is a network of schools; apparently the network of Chabad schools in the Holy Land, Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch, which the Rebbe's letters also call "the Reshet" (see letter 6696 above, note 13). The recipient, who is training to be a teacher, considered stopping her studies and going out next year to teach in the network's schools, because it is hard for her to continue studying, which demands concentration.

5. Many times as great (כ"פ ככה): כ"פ ככה = כמה פעמים ככה. A small deficiency in the teacher's training causes a deficiency many times greater in the teaching itself.

6. A great many (כו"כ): כו"כ = כמה וכמה. A deficiency in preparation concerns her alone, but a deficiency in the teaching affects many pupils – the whole class.

7. G‑d, blessed be He (השי"ת): השי"ת = השם יתברך.

8. Provided it does not affect the quality of the preparation (ובאם לא יגע בטיב ההכנה): These words do not decide how she should use the coming vacation, as long as it does not harm the quality of the preparation for the next term.

9. Good news (לבשו"ט): לבשו"ט = לבשורות טובות.

10. The Rebbe shlita (כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א): "Our holy master, teacher and Rebbe, may he live long and good days, amen." The letter was written by the secretary in the Rebbe's name.

Summary

Through his secretary the Rebbe encourages a woman to revive, with the help of N'shei uBnos Chabad, the Shabbos gatherings and girls' club she had organized. As for her idea of leaving her studies to go out and teach in the "Reshet" because studying is hard for her: precisely because she has a talent for teaching she must prepare fully, for a small gap in preparation becomes a large gap in teaching that affects the whole class; she should continue studying, preferably with one or two study partners.