9526 —על הישארות בחינוך ותפקידן הייחודי של מחנכות בנות ישראל

B"H, 22 Tammuz, 5728.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z rav pe'alim — Mohar — Chaim Yaakov Shlamme, director of Beit HaMidrash LeMorot "Beit Rivkah," Biyeres

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the day of the Fourth Fast – may it soon be transformed to joy and gladness – I am enclosing here my letter to the graduates. Certainly, if they need it, you will give them an appropriate explanation.

We have been assured that words which come from the heart enter the heart and have their effect.

Based on the words of our Rebbe the Alter Rebbe that one does not argue with advice, I refrained from expressing my opinion on the following matter until I saw some sign that I should give my view. I found this sign in your aforementioned letter; after receiving such a sign, the situation changes and I am obligated to express my opinion. The matter is as follows:

With great astonishment I heard some time ago from Haraha"g and Haraha"ch etc., Rabbi A. Shai Gorodetzki regarding KSD (the idea) of replacing his beautiful portion in educating Jewish girls in general—and an even higher role in preparing Jewish girls to become future educators—with a position in rabbanut at this time etc., etc. It is well known that each one is called by our Sages a daughter of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah; from this it is also understood that regarding each one individually, the saying applies with full force: like mother like daughter.

The greatness of this matter is understood and obvious—especially according to the saying of the Baal Shem Tov that G‑d's love for every Jew far surpasses even that of elderly parents for their only child born to them in their old age. Nevertheless, there is talk about replacing this lofty role and mission from G‑d with a rabbinic position in our times etc., etc.

As mentioned above, until now I did not intervene since it was not yet required or asked of me; also because I thought that ultimately it would remain just an idea (KSD), though even such an idea arouses great astonishment.

It is obvious that everything written in my letter to the graduates applies all the more so regarding one who took a leading role in guiding them until they became certified graduates with teaching diplomas in Israel—many times over also in quality—and surely for your honor further elaboration is unnecessary.

I will only add another point: as I have heard several times from Haraha"g and Haraha"ch etc., Rabbi A.G. Shai', his wife also has played an active part in establishing and developing Beit HaMidrash LeMorot; meaning she too would be exchanging her role and mission for something else.

I have also heard several times from those mentioned above about supposed reasons which allegedly led to this idea for you and your wife—that supposedly someone is interfering etc., etc. Even if one were to say that this is truly so without exaggeration etc., still the solution is not abandoning education or leaving one's role and mission but rather striving to remove or at least minimize those obstacles etc., etc.

It is clear that much more could be said on this topic; however, surely what has been written here will suffice for your honor as well.

I will only add that even now I view this entire matter as merely an idea (KSD); nevertheless—as above—even such thoughts are distressing and puzzling.

May it be G‑d's will—Elokim Emet—Who gave us a Torah of truth—a guide for each person's task in our world—that He guide you and your household on a true and good path in every detail.

With blessings for good news.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that challenges within chinuch must be met with perseverance rather than withdrawal. The unique mission of educating Jewish girls carries immense spiritual value; obstacles should inspire greater effort rather than abandonment of this sacred calling.