The Divine service of Rosh HaShanah; its connection to the spiritual significance of ritual slaughter

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The custom to recite each day a verse that begins and concludes with the same letters as begin and conclude one's name

No. 398

The name of the person to whom this letter was sent was not disclosed.

B"H, 19 Elul, 5708

Greetings and blessings,

...With regard to reading matter for your daughter, copies of everything that was published by our central office were sent and will be sent to your community through our regional office or the committee for the branches. Among them will be materials that are appropriate for your daughter. It is clear that with regard to ordinary books, it is impossible to voice an opinion from here until they are seen and checked.

Since you mentioned this question, [I must emphasize] that [your] fundamental [attention] should not be [directed] to correcting a secondary matter ([by making available] reading materials and even textbooks) although this is also very significant if one is indolent (I don't want to use a more painful term) regarding them. [Correcting] the primary matter [involves finding] an educational institution and an [appropriate social] environment. Even if it is true that at present there is not a fitting class for her in any of the [local] kosher educational institutions, why don't you endeavor to establish such a class? Have you begun such efforts but have not succeeded? And if this is totally impossible, why doesn't she serve as a teacher or a counselor in a school that is established on a foundation of purity?

The question is not finding a class appropriate for her abilities in one or two disciplines, but rather it is a question of finding an appropriate setting so that she will remain strong in her Jewishness. Periods of transition, particularly for her age, and particularly when [comparing] the pattern of life in our previous country to that prevalent within Europe as a whole, are especially sensitive in this regard.

With regard to your statements that you feel sorrow because of this, you are certainly aware of the adage of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita: "One deed is better than a thousand sighs."

I took license to elaborate slightly concerning this... although I had not done so previously, because until now you did not give me an opportunity to begin speaking about this issue. Nevertheless, I ask your forgiveness for interfering in this matter.

Enclosed is a kuntreis for Chai Elul. It should be made available to people at large to increase their merit.

I conclude with wishes for a kesivah vachasimah tovah for you and the entire household for a good and sweet year in both material and spiritual matters,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

The Divine service of Rosh HaShanah; its connection to the spiritual significance of ritual slaughter

Table of contents

Search this book:

The custom to recite each day a verse that begins and concludes with the same letters as begin and conclude one's name