Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9584

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Mar Cheshvan* 5729,
Brooklyn, New York,

I greet you and bless you,

I am responding to your letter, along with what was enclosed, regarding the position being offered to you[1].

A) With regard to this position, you should take counsel from friends who are on the ground and familiar with the details of what you are currently doing and what is being proposed to you. It has already been said: "salvation comes from many counselors"[2]. Of course, this proposal may only be considered if it causes no harm to the current institution.

B) With regard to the school's authority, I am surprised by your question and your doubt in this matter, for it is entirely self-evident that in any Jewish community worthy of the name — a holy community — the final arbiter in all that concerns it is the Rav*, the master of the place. All the more so is this the case in the domain of education, and in the present age. For from this education depends the future of the students and, through them, that of the parents. This is quite clear.

I hope that you are likewise taking part in the dissemination of Iggeret HaTeshuvah* of the Admur HaZaken*[3]. Its text has just been published as a standalone booklet, with the aim of promoting this dissemination. The merit of the public therefore comes to help.

As for the other question, my answer is the one given to the committee. With my blessing to give me good news of all that has been said,

M. Schneerson,

Notes

[1] See Heichal Menachem, vol. 2, p. 134.
[2] Proverbs 11:14 and 24:6.
[3] At the end of the year 5728, the Rebbe requested the study of Iggeret HaTeshuvah. During the Chassidic gatherings of 5729, he explained a few lines of it each time. Some of these commentaries were subsequently corrected by the Rebbe and published in the anthology entitled Biyurim LeIggeret HaTeshuvah, published by Kehot in 5729. In a second phase, all these commentaries, including those not reviewed by the Rebbe, were edited in Likkutei Biyurim LeSeferHaTanya, vol. 2, by Rav I. Korf, published in Brooklyn in 5733, and in Sefer Chiyurim BeSeferHaTanya by Rav Y. Weinberg. Later, at the end of 5730, Likkutei Levi Yitzchak Hearot LeSeferHaTanya was also published, compiling the Rebbe's father's commentaries on the Tanya. From its publication, the Rebbe began systematic commentary on the section of that work dealing with Iggeret HaTeshuvah. From the summer of 5739, the Rebbe published a large part of these explanations, which subsequently appeared in Likkutei Sichot, vol. 19, in Biyurim BeIggeret HaTeshuvah published by Kehot in 5752, and in Likkutei Sichot, vol. 39. On this same subject, see also letters nos. 9585, 9646, and 9657.

ט'תקפד

ב"ה , ז' מרחשון, ה'תשכ"ט

ברוקלין, נ.י.

שלום וברכה!

במענה למכתבו עם המצורף אליו, בנוגע להצעת המשרה ב . . .

הנה בנוגע למשרה עצמה יתיעץ עם ידידים על אתר היודעים פרטי משרתו עתה ופרטי ההצעה ד . . . וכבר נאמר ותשועה ברוב יועץ. ומובן ששייך לדון בההצעה באם על ידי כך לא יוגרם נזק להמוסד ב . . .

ב) בנוגע לסמכות דבית הספר ב . . . וכו', לפלא השאלה והספק, שהרי מובן ופשוט שבקהילה הראוי' לשם קהילה בישראל – קהילא קדישא – הפוסק האחרון בכל עניני הקהילה הוא הרב מרא דאתרא, על אחת כמה וכמה בשטח החינוך ותקופתנו זו, כי בחינוך תלוי עתידם של התלמידים ועל ידם גם של ההורים וק"ל.

התקוה שגם הוא משתתף בהפצת לימוד אגרת התשובה לרבנו הזקן שהו"ל זה עתה בחוברת בפני עצמה וכו' בכדי להגדיל ההפצה, וזכות הרבים מסייעת.

בנוגע ל . . . – כפי המענה להועד.

בברכה לבשורות טובות בכהנ"ל,

מ. שניאורסאהן