9954 —על זהות יהודית, גאווה לאומית, וסכנות ההכרה השקרית

B"H, 18 Menachem Av, 5730.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Mr. Avraham Macharovsky.

Shalom u'Vrachah! I thank you for your letter from Erev Shabbat Nachamu along with the enclosed copy of the telegram from your Jewish community.

May the Alm-ghty help that ultimately all these repeated efforts in this matter will have an effect, and that the greatest disgrace one Jew can do to another—especially in this case not just to another Jew but to the entire Jewish people—will be nullified. This involves a desecration of G‑d's Name and a desecration of the honor of the Jewish people. For everyone sees the greatest falsehood in proclaiming to the whole world that a non-Jew who pays $25 to a rabbi sitting in California—whose name and address are known—receives from him a confirmation and certificate proclaiming this non-Jew as a Jew. He is then recognized in Eretz Yisrael as a Jew with all rights granted by the government to Jews; and naturally this non-Jew is given a passport stating he is a Jew without any remarks attached. Such a shocking thing has not happened to the Jewish people over thousands of years—not even from their greatest enemies—and specifically in our generation this has occurred.

It is not worthwhile—especially as we approach Chodesh Elul—to write things that do not bring honor to Jews; on the contrary, etc.

May the Alm-ghty bless and grant success—in accordance with the date of your writing (Erev Shabbat Nachamu)—that there should be true consolation through nullifying this mentioned law very soon; and Jews will take pride in their Judaism—true pride—and will not bow before every non-Jew or flatter them or try to fulfill obligations toward them by thinking that through this, someday, the non-Jew will become a good friend; forgetting what has happened in our generation by chasing after non-Jews and what happened in previous generations. From now on may Jews themselves stop disgracing the Jewish people and desecrating Israel's honor—for this is the only way that even non-Jews will know they must reckon with a Jew.

Blessings that you should be able to report good news regarding all matters about which you wrote in your letter—and soon.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that authentic Jewish pride and self-respect are essential for earning respect from others. Seeking validation through false means or flattery leads only to disgrace; true dignity comes from upholding our own values and identity.