10283 —אחדות בין קהילות יהודיות וחשיבות חוק מיהו יהודי

B"H, 10 Kislev, 5732.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter from the 9th of Cheshvan, and thank you for taking the time to write to me despite knowing that I am greatly behind in responding to letters—even to the most important correspondents—due to overwhelming obligations that unfortunately do not decrease but rather increase.

It is understood that I frequently receive reports about your activities, especially those related to the preservation of our people everywhere, both in the Land and in the Diaspora, for we are one nation. Special thanks for your efforts to annul the terrible decree which, due to much confusion and distortion, was called the "Who Is a Jew" law. The hope is strong that you will continue in this area even more until this decree is completely annulled.

If in many matters it is said "the zealous act early," how much more so regarding this issue—where it is truly said "better one moment earlier," not just an hour of sixty minutes but literally a brief moment. Surely for someone like yourself there is no need for further explanation as to how necessary this annulment is and with the greatest urgency.

I had particular satisfaction seeing in your letter your interest and activity in narrowing the gap between different communities within Israel; this too shares common ground with Chabad's activities—and indeed it is one of Chabad's main points of focus. You surely observed this during your visit to institutions in Kfar Chabad where actual integration of exiles can be seen in every aspect.

You are also surely aware of Chabad's concentrated work among Sephardic communities—in Morocco and Tunisia—which began immediately after the passing of my father-in-law, the previous Rebbe; similar activities took place generations earlier among Georgian and Caucasian Jews—communities that were closed off within their own four cubits—when my father-in-law's father sent emissaries there over sixty years ago. The fruits of those missions—and their subsequent generations—are now those making aliyah to our holy land, as expressed in the well-known phrase: "with our youth and elders, with our sons and daughters."

This is also a fundamental principle in educating boys and girls in Europe—where many from Morocco and Tunisia have immigrated—not only to narrow gaps but also to blend together students from all backgrounds, as seen in our educational institutions such as Yaarre Sha"y Paris, Beit Sefer and Beit Rivka Seminary, etc.

With respect and blessings for success in your blessed activities and for good news regarding all mentioned above.

Summary

The Rebbe highlights the urgency of annulling divisive laws like Who Is a Jew and stresses Chabad’s mission to unify Jews across backgrounds through education and outreach worldwide.