Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5100 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

5 Shevat* 5717

Brooklyn

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem*

and devotes himself to communal needs,

Rav Shmuel Betzalel* (see note 1),

Greetings and blessings,

I have duly received your letter of 14 Teves*. Of course, you need not apologize for writing to me about the Beis Rivka*. On the contrary, I must be aware of the situation as it actually is (see note 2), and I prefer to receive this information from friends — especially since, in the end, the difficulties are always communicated to me indirectly and by those who, for the moment, are neither friends nor close associates, with the result that their descriptions are very often exaggerated.

Regarding the question itself that was posed: at the present time, one must seize every opportunity that presents itself in the domain of education. Sometimes one must incur expenses without seeing how they will be covered. But in the end, financial problems always find a solution, if need be with a delay of several months, even though it is not pleasant to remain in debt during that period.

This is not the case if one ceases, for some time, to provide education to students. Unable to wait, they take another direction — very often one that differs from what is desired.

I hope that the Chassidim* will give this matter all the necessary attention. Divine Providence has enabled them to conduct activities in Melbourne in particular, and more broadly throughout all of Australia. Education constitutes a large part of this. If it is undertaken with joy — which will have the effect of dispelling melancholy — Hashem too will grant His blessing in a joyful manner, as the holy Zohar* explains.

And you know the saying of my father-in-law, the Rebbe (see note 3), that a soldier goes to the military parade singing a victory march, which has the effect of strengthening the victory and hastening it.

You will also deduce from what has just been said that the time of the children, throughout the entire duration of their studies, must be devoted to this to the fullest extent possible, for once they become detached from it, it is very difficult to bring them back to study, and even more so to obtain that this study be enthusiastic. This is self-evident.

You tell me that a fundraiser for Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim* of Lod* is considering traveling to Australia. It seems to me that I have already given my opinion once on a similar question. In this case, three entities must be satisfied: the Chassidim of Australia, Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim of Lod, and the central office of Yeshivos Tomchei Temimim of the United States — so that there is no interference and so that all coordinate.

May the merit of the one whose hilula* we celebrate (see note 4) — the director of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim and of the Chabad* institutions throughout the world — protect you, so that you can give me good tidings of all this.

With my blessing for broadening your material sustenance and for conveying good tidings, always and every day, with the joy that has always characterized Nikolayev* (see note 5),

Notes

(1) Rav S. B. Althuiz, of Melbourne, Australia. See, regarding him, letter no. 4911.

(2) See, on this subject, letter no. 4911.

(3) See, on this subject, letters no. 4049, 5197, and 5262.

(4) On 10 Shevat; the Frierdiker Rebbe*.

(5) The city from which Rav Althuiz originates.

ב״ה ,ה׳ שבט ,תשי״ז

ברוקלין.

הוו״ח אי״א נו״נ עוסק בצ”צ

מו״ה שמואל בצלאל שיי

שלום וברכה׳

מאשר הנני את קבלת מכתבו מי״ד טבת ,ובפשיטות שאין כל מקום

לבקש סליחה על הכתיבה בעניני בית רבקה ,ואדרבה ,הרי מוכרחים

לדעת את המצב כמו שהוא ,ותמיד עדיף לקבל את הידיעות כמו שהן

ומידידים .בפרט שסוכ״ס הרי הידיעות אודות החסרונות מגיעות מן

הצד ,ומכאלה שלעת עתה אינם ידידים וקרובים ,שזה מתבטא גם

בכתיבתם בהגזמה על כך.

ובעצם השאלה ״ זו שעה שבה יש לנצל מה שניתן ובפרט בעניני