10282 —המאבק בגזירת מיהו יהודי ודחיפות הפעולה

B"H, 10 Kislev, 5732.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter from the 4th of Kislev with its enclosures and previous correspondence. I begin by asking your forgiveness for my delay in replying until now—this was due to many preoccupations, especially those mixed with distress, such as the terrible decree (which, due to much confusion and obfuscation, they called a "law") regarding Who is a Jew.

I thank you for your attention in informing me of your activities to annul this alarming decree. My strong hope is that you will not be satisfied at all with what has been done so far; rather—and as we discussed when you were here—you will increase these efforts further until the decree is completely nullified.

And if in many matters it is said that "the zealous act early," how much more so regarding this issue, where it is truly said: "Better one moment earlier" (not in the sense of sixty minutes but literally even a brief instant), and without interruption.

And about such matters our Sages said: "I am asleep in exile but my heart is awake to His Torah and mitzvos." They said this about those who are in spiritual exile—a doubled and redoubled darkness—even to the extent of enacting such a law as mentioned above. Even they themselves know that this undermines the existence of our entire people in the Diaspora and in Eretz Yisrael, for we are one nation.

Their only claim is: How can we begin to fix this when religious representatives who say they represent the faith of Moshe and Israel continue to sit in the government? Not only that—they are actually implementing this law. Furthermore, this constitutes an unparalleled public desecration of G‑d's Name since it has been declared many times by both party and government that the Chief Rabbinate are their rabbis who decide matters of halachah. The Chief Rabbinate ruled clearly at their session on Thursday, Eve of 8 Sivan 5730 (1970), as follows: Any conversion performed—whether in Israel or abroad—not according to halachah as established from Sinai until now—is not a conversion. A non-Jew does not become a Jew except through conversion according to halachah.

Regarding remaining in the government, the Chief Rabbinate ruled at that same session: If, G‑d forbid, this law is not corrected as above, religious representatives must leave the government because it is impossible to share responsibility for this matter as government members.

Since then about a year and a half has passed—and it cannot be said that nothing has changed; on the contrary, things have worsened etc. There is no need to elaborate on this frightening matter.

May it be G‑d's will that you bring good news on all these matters one moment sooner.

We are approaching Chanukah—the victory of Mattisyahu HaKohen Gadol over the Hellenizers; few against many etc.

With honor and blessing for success in all mentioned above and among his friends (to whom, obviously, what was written above also applies—and fortunate is he who merits),

M. Schneersohn

P.S. From your goodness—and I thank you in advance for any trouble—please also convey what was written above to your sister (may she live). After asking her forgiveness—I must also express my great astonishment: When she needed actual help she acted fearlessly in various areas where she saw it necessary to protect Jewish communities living together in one settlement or city etc.; yet now when there is no danger at all expected and on the other hand what’s at stake is our entire people everywhere—they do not hear her voice at gatherings or meetings; she withholds her writing from newspapers or pamphlets etc., though Divine Providence granted her special talent for speaking out—raising alarm—and writing. There is more to add here but my intention is not rebuke but action—with energy—to annul this decree. If she wishes—even what was written above suffices; if she’s not ready for any reason—then what use are more words? Surely there are many explanations for silence—but never has Israel been saved from its adversaries through even justified silence.

Summary

The Rebbe urges unwavering activism against threats to Jewish identity laws, stressing urgency and communal responsibility over complacency or silence—even justified silence never brought salvation to Israel.