Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5930 — Shidduchim

By the grace of Hashem*,

17 Kislev* 5718,

Brooklyn,

I bless you and greet you,

I am responding to your letter of 15 Kislev*, in which you mention your engagement prospects and the proposals being made to you.

Based on my knowledge of the students of the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim*, and as I told your father, may Hashem* grant him long life, it is indeed possible to think about and take interest in several of them. I therefore do not understand why it would be necessary to look elsewhere.

Of course, people are not perfect, and in fact, only One is — the Holy One, blessed be He. The same is therefore true of these students. Some may say they are not perfect, but as I have said, all people are this way. Despite this, one marries and is then truly happy.

In all domains, one accustoms oneself to focus on what is essential and only afterward on what is secondary. I do not believe that for an engagement, which concerns your entire life, it is conceivable to set aside what is fundamental and to seek, first and foremost, what is most secondary — or perhaps even less than that.

As for the idea of spending this year in Eretz Yisrael* — and without even considering the project itself — those who depart from observance wish to organize such a trip precisely this year, in order to proclaim: "My strength and the might of my hand have accomplished all this." If one has not gone until now, it does not seem to me that it would be good to lend support to this initiative and to consider such a trip precisely at this time.

On the occasion of your birthday, which will be this Shabbos*, may Hashem* grant you a year of success in all domains, and that you find a match suited to you in every respect, at the proper time. I hope that the Chabad* women and girls in your city will make use of the luminous day of 19 Kislev* in the fitting manner, on the day itself or in the days that follow. May Hashem* grant them success.

With my blessing,