By the Grace of G‑d 12 Cheshvan, 5713 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I have duly received your letter written about a week before Rosh Hashonah. However, because of the intervening month of Tishrei and the festivals, I was unable to answer it in detail.

I have now received your cable with the good news that ... has become engaged. I wish you Mazel Tov and please convey to her my best wishes for an everlasting edifice based on Torah and Mitzvoth. I trust you will inform me further details, and the name of the bridegroom, and the mother's name, so that I can remember them in prayer at the holy resting place of my father-in-law of sainted memory.

Referring to your letter in the order of things as they appear in it, you need not apologize for writing in English and you can continue to do so in the future. The important thing is, after all, the contents of the letter and not its external form. To be sure, the language is of importance, especially the Holy tongue, and as our sages say, it was one of the merits of our ancestors in Egypt that they did not change their language.¹ And there is a fundamental difference between our Holy tongue which was divinely given, and other languages which are formed by custom and convention, and for this reason the Hebrew name is of special and absolute significance.* Nevertheless, if it presents a difficulty in expressing one's thoughts with clarity and ease, there can be no objection whatever to writing in any other language. Hence, you may continue to write in English and I trust that you will always have good news to report.

With regard to the problem of your son, Aron Dov,² as to where he should settle, I am not familiar with the distances between the North and the South of Manchester. However, as far as I can see from your letter, the South of Manchester holds out better promise, as far as the economic question is concerned. The problem is that the Jewish environment is not so good there and you doubt whether your son has the ability to achieve much if he settled there, and you are afraid he might suffer on that account. On the other hand, in your section there is a better Jewish environment, although, financially there is no sufficient source of income in immediate sight.

If I have sized the situation up correctly, I think that they should settle in the South of Manchester, and more so because there is need for improving the Jewish environment there. I trust that both he and his bride, who has studied at the Beth Jacob school, will not only be able to hold their own, but will be able to accomplish things in the strengthening of Judaism there, and no doubt you will help them as much as you can.

As for your apprehension that your son may not have the proper strength to carry it out, we have seen from experience that the challenge itself brings forth additional strength to cope with it. The very fact that the job is awaiting him in the South of Manchester and not elsewhere, seems to me an indication from On High, that that is the place for him and that there he will find not only his material Parnoso but also his spiritual Parnoso, in bringing the hearts of Jewish people closer to their Father in heaven.

With regard to the appointment of the . . . whom you think has not the necessary qualifications for the job, the thing to do is to encourage and help him, as one can never know the real strength that lies hidden within a Jew. In this connection it is well to remember the words of my father-in-law of sainted memory, originating from the Baal Shem Tov, that Jews are likened to the soil and called ארץ חפץ. For in the earth we find all the treasures such as gold, diamonds, minerals, etc. These treasures are generally not found on the surface but we have to dig for them. Similarly in the case of the Jews, you find 'buried' in them the highest qualifications; they only have to be brought to the surface. There is no need to elaborate on this.

With regard to your Shiurim which work out sometimes better, sometimes not so good, there is no cause for alarm. The fact that they do come out better at times should only serve as clear proof that you have the ability to make them better. This thought should be borne in mind in times of weakness, in order to bring out additional 'forces' to improve them.

No Jew should ever entertain a feeling of despondency. G-d never rejects anyone, and eventually every one must return to G-d. It is only a question of time, but when the goal appears nearer, one usually gets additional strength and desire to get there quicker and to overcome all handicaps.

You mentioned that your daughter, Haye Sarah, has reached the age of 19, but you do not mention what she is doing and her standards of education, especially in Jewish learning, in which she is still engaged, no doubt. May G-d give her a long and happy life and a suitable match at the proper time. You also mention your married daughter, Hannah, and son, Isaac Zvi. I will remember them all in prayer when I will be at the Holy resting place of my father-in-law of sainted memory.

I conclude with the prayerful wish that you should have lots of Nachas, Yiddish Nachas, both from yourselves and from all your children, and I hope also Chassidishe Nachas.

בברכה מ. שניאורסאהן