Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1806 — Chinuch

By the grace of Hashem,

First day of Rosh Chodesh Elul 5712,

Brooklyn, New York,

Greetings and blessings,

I duly received your letter of Tuesday of Parshas Va'eschanan. My response has been delayed for various reasons.

You write me concerning your house on New York Avenue, and you tell me that the neighboring house has been bought by a colored family. Your mother therefore does not know what she should do with yours.

As far as I remember, I have already responded to a similar question. It seems to me that one should sell a house to the one who gives the best price for it, on the best conditions. But one must immediately invest this money in a house that is well situated.

Concerning your second question, you tell me that your mother has been sued by someone who tumbled down the staircase and who is claiming twenty thousand dollars in damages. Your insurance covers only half of this amount, and you wish to know whether it would be good to take a lawyer. It seems to me, in fact, that this question must be posed to a man of the trade. In such a case, in a general manner, the court does not grant the totality of the sum that has been requested.

Moreover, there are lawyers who are remunerated not by fixed honoraria, but at a percentage of the amount that they obtain for the benefit of their client. You surely know someone whom you can interrogate on this subject.

Nevertheless, you must tell your mother that there is no occasion to panic because a colored family is settling in the neighborhood. Such persons can also be good neighbors, just as whites can also be bad neighbors.

In fact, I advise you to sell the house, on the one hand, for fear of a fall in prices, and, on the other hand, so that she be less nervous.

I read with pleasure that you recited a chassidic discourse on 12 Tammuz. I hope that you will use as is fitting the time that you spend at the hotel, during which you meet many persons, coming from different cities. You will transmit to them at least the great principles of Chassidus*, concerning ahavas Hashem*, ahavas haTorah*, and ahavas Yisroel*.

May Hashem grant you success, may you settle in a satisfactory manner, and may your mother conceive much chassidic satisfaction from all her children.