Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7011 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

21 Elul* 5719,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the attention of the members of the community Adas Yisrael,

Havana, Cuba, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

I have duly received your letter of 12 Menachem Av*, in which you ask me to delegate to you a mentor possessing a diploma that would enable him to teach and to have the necessary authority to be a leader. My response has been delayed because I wanted to evaluate the possibilities of finding a candidate suited to your request. For the present, I have not yet found such a person who would correspond more or less to the needs and expectations of your community in various domains. I have therefore decided not to delay this letter any further. Indeed, you may know other people who can submit an acceptable candidacy to you.

I must add that, if some more time passes before you find the suitable candidate, you must ensure that the fundamental needs of the community do not suffer. I am specifically alluding to education based on sacred values. Our Sages* give us the assurance that Hashem demands only in accordance with the means He grants. Now, education based on sacred values is one of the most basic and the most elevated needs. The same applies to the study of the Torah* in general, including for adults. The community therefore has the sacred obligation to designate from among its members several people who will assume these functions, until the suitable candidate is found and assumes full responsibility. As I said, insofar as there is a fundamental need, you will surely find a way to satisfy it, by making the effort that will be necessary.

In these days of the month of Elul*, the month of compassion, as we approach Rosh Hashanah*, one must hope that your community, in general, and each of its members, in particular, will be seized by a spiritual awakening and strengthening, in order to reinforce the foundations of good education, to spread the Torah* and the practice of the mitzvos* within this community. I hope that you will very soon give me good tidings of this. You will therefore tell me that you have set to work and that you have experienced success. I wish you all, in general and each one in particular, to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year, materially and spiritually alike. With my respects and my blessing,