9200 —הדרכה על דיור בכפר חב"ד ותכניות לימוד תורה של הבן

B"H, Eve of Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5726. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 26th of Menachem Av, in which you write about the housing question in Kfar Chabad and the difficulties involved. It would be good for you to speak again with the committee of Kfar Chabad, and you can certainly say that you are doing this according to my advice. May Hashem Yisbarach help you with a good arrangement, both spiritually and materially—for a Jew, material matters depend on spiritual ones, as is seen when one contemplates this. Surely it is unnecessary to elaborate further on this topic.

From this, my attitude toward the second part of your letter is clear, where you write about your son's plan regarding his future studies—which is surprising that such thoughts even arise. Hashem Yisbarach led you and your family with miracles upon miracles, rescuing you from that country completely—not only physically but also regarding Judaism—and the miracle was successful in actuality. You ascended to Eretz Yisrael, the Holy Land. Now you want to give away the best years of life—the youthful years—to study things that could have been achieved in that previous country as well, perhaps even learned better than elsewhere? And all this instead of thanking Hashem Yisbarach in an appropriate way—meaning by strengthening oneself to fulfill Hashem's will as indicated in Torah up to Shulchan Aruch—and to engage in what was impossible in that previous country, doing so with joy and gladness of heart.

All the more so when it involved mesiras nefesh—one did everything possible without considering obstacles just to conduct oneself according to Hashem's will—and now that one has come to freedom to live as one wishes and as required, someone comes and claims: although Hashem is the One who sustains and provides for all with goodness, grace, kindness, and mercy—He will not be able (G‑d forbid) to provide for this person unless he has a paper proving he studied here or there! Therefore one must devote so many hours, days, weeks, months, and years to all those things in which that previous country excelled. I do not wish to elaborate on such a painful matter—especially since I am sure what was written above will suffice to see things as they truly are.

Especially now standing in the month of Elul when every Jew says twice daily "Hashem Ori Veyishi" (Hashem is my light and my salvation)—that Hashem Yisbarach alone illuminates one's life and helps him.

According to your writing, this letter was sent by express airmail.

With blessing,
In the name of the Rebbe Shlita,
Secretary

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that spiritual priorities should guide material decisions. After experiencing miracles and gaining religious freedom, one should focus on Torah study with gratitude rather than pursuing secular achievements previously emphasized under restriction.