Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1347 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,
17[1] Teves 5712,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the directors of the Chabad institutions in Eretz HaKodesh*,
may Hashem grant them long life,

Greetings and blessings,

In reply to your questions, intended to gather my opinion regarding the division of roles and responsibilities for the direction of the Chabad institutions in our Eretz HaKodesh — may it be restored and rebuilt — for that of the Chabad association, and for those who bear responsibility for oversight, of which I spoke in my previous letters[2].

So that everything be clear, I will repeat all of this once again. Here is my opinion regarding the division of roles:

A) As I said in my previous letters addressed to the association of the Chabad chassidim*, it is good and judicious that each institution preserve its own autonomy and that it be in direct contact with here. The association of Chabad chassidim will therefore not intervene in the internal management of these institutions.

B) The association of Chabad chassidim will assure the external representation, each time that all the Chabad institutions must present themselves as a single entity. Consequently, there must be, on the leadership of this association, a representative of each institution. This is in fact the case.

C) The role of the controllers, as their name indicates, is the following. They must oversee the work of the leadership of an institution and be in direct contact with here, to give an account of what is taking place in this institution.

Consequently, the leadership must present its accounts to the controllers, give them access to the records. Conversely, a controller cannot give orders, modify, or take decisions within an institution.

D) Of course, the association of Chabad chassidim and the controllers may formulate proposals to the leadership of an institution. More than this, they must do so if they have knowledge of elements that go against the objective of this institution or, in general, that are not good. Nevertheless, their role is limited to proposing.

E) It results from what has just been said that the responsibility for the development of an institution is entrusted to its leadership. The latter must take all the measures that are required to maintain it and to expand it.

It is the same for the controllers, who must know all that is taking place in this institution, propose the necessary adjustments according to their opinion, but without power of decision. They must also report to here, if they think that certain points are harmful to the institution or are not suitable.

I hope that this will dispel all the doubts and the comments that are not in accordance with my opinion. As for my letter of 13 Kislev, I ask all the institutions to confirm to me the receipt of the present letter, and that peace reign in Yisroel.

With my brachah*,

M. Schneerson,

Notes
(1) The Rebbe writes Tov, good, a word whose numerical value is 17.
(2) This refers to letter no. 1291. See also letter no. 1064.

———

1347*

By the grace of Hashem,
17[3] Teves 5712,
Brooklyn, New York,

To those who take part in the celebration of the twelfth
anniversary of the Lubavitcher Yeshivos in the United States,
may Hashem grant them long life,

Greetings and blessings,

I have the honor to greet and to extend my brachah, from the depths of my heart, to all those who take part in the celebration of the Lubavitcher Yeshivos in the United States. The very fact that you are present attests to your desire and your will to acquire the great merit constituted by lending your help to the central organization of the Lubavitcher Yeshivos.

All the Yidden* of America who observe the situation of Yiddishkeit* in this country, and to whom it is dear, are conscious of the monumental work accomplished by my father-in-law, the Rebbe. Through his accomplishments in general, and through his yeshivos in particular, he has transformed America.

The strong and profound influence exerted by the Lubavitcher Yeshivos on Jewish life in America, and the mesirus nefesh* for Yiddishkeit that characterizes those who received their education there, are henceforth established facts recognized by all.

The central organization of the yeshivos is in a difficult financial situation, which compromises not only the development — much needed — of these institutions, but also their very existence, chas veshalom*.

The importance of the mitzvah* of tzedakah* is well known. Nevertheless, one sometimes makes calculations tending to diminish one's participation, for various reasons.

The paramount character of the Lubavitcher Yeshivos must be recognized. Upon them depend not only the possibility of studying Torah while being permeated with yiras Shamayim* — which is, in itself, an important fact, at the foundation of Jewish existence — but also the daily life of a Yid, which must likewise be permeated with the spirit of Yiddishkeit and of Torah.

In the face of what is an absolute priority, all other considerations limiting this participation must disappear. This participation must in no way be limited.

I hope and I want to be certain that all of you, friends of the Lubavitcher Yeshivos, will make the greatest effort and bring the largest contribution, in order to fill the deficit of the central organization of the yeshivos, and to give them the possibility of pursuing their action.

HaKadosh Baruch Hu* does not remain in debt. He will fulfill the needs of all those who bring their participation.

I conclude my appeal by recalling the words of our master, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, in the last letter he addressed to the participants of the annual dinner of the Lubavitcher Yeshivos in 5710[4]. Here are his words, translated into Yiddish[5]:

"May Hashem strengthen the health of each one of you and grant you all material abundance, in great measure. May we all, with the members of our families, merit to witness the elevation of the keren* of Torah and that of the tradition of Yisroel, at the imminent geulah*, through our righteous Moshiach. He will lead us, with our heads held high, to our Eretz HaKodesh, very soon and in our days, Amen."

With my brachah,

M. Schneerson,

Notes
(3) The Rebbe writes Tov, good, a word whose numerical value is 17.
(4) 1950, the last before his passing.
(5) This letter is written in Yiddish.