Igrot Kodesh · Letter 137 — Dedicating Talents to Jewish Education

By the grace of Hashem,

Monday, 27 Shevat 5704,

To the very dear Mr. Chaim Liberman [1],

I greet you and bless you,

I would like, by this letter, to thank you for having visited the Merkaz L'Inyonei Chinuch*.

I had great pleasure in making your acquaintance and in exchanging with you on the current problems of Jewish education in America.

The impression that your meeting with my father-in-law [2], the Rebbe Shlita*, will have made upon you will, I am convinced, have a concrete effect on your action on behalf of Jewish education.

The Midrash*, commenting on the Parashah* of this week, says: "The world did not deserve to possess gold. Why then was it created? For the Sanctuary and the Temple."

Every man can draw a lesson from this. He must be aware that the capacities with which Hashem has endowed him must be placed in the service of the Sanctuary and the Temple found in the heart of every Jew. It is only through this merit that it is also possible to make use of them in the world.

I wish to remain in contact with you regarding all that concerns concrete action.

Sincerely yours, with my blessing for an immediate teshuvah*, immediate redemption,

Rav Menachem Schneerson,

Director of the executive committee

Notes

[1] He was a journalist.

[2] The Previous Rebbe had written to the journalist Liberman: "It would be very positive if you visited my son-in-law, who is a great scholar, Rav M. M. Shlita*, in order to make his acquaintance. You should also meet Rav Hodakov. You will discuss with them the campaign that should be conducted for a proper education." The Rebbe indicates here that on that occasion, the journalist also visited the Previous Rebbe.