By the Grace of G-d 3rd of Sivan, 5716 Brooklyn, N.Y.
64 Bradshaw Street
Dorchester, Mass.
Greeting and Blessing:
I was pleased to receive your letter with the news of your having passed your oral examination. I trust you will be equally successful with your other examinations. I was also pleased to read about the subject matter of your conversation with your uncle, which reflects their good sentiments toward you.
As you do not mention your mother, I assume that everything is well with her, and I hope to hear good news also about your sister Menucha Leah 'תי.
With prayerful wishes for your success and wishing you also a happy and inspiring Festival of the Receiving of Our Torah with inner and lasting joy,
With blessing,
By Nissan Mindel
MazzaItov on the occasion of the birth of a girl to your sister, and may the parents bring her up to a life of Torah,1 Chuppah and Maasim Toivim.
Notes and sources
Dr. Yitzchak Leib (Irving) Block (5691-5778) a Harvard-educated philosopher, who was originally brought closer to Judaism through the influence of Rabbi Zalman Posner. A devoted chossid of the Rebbe, he became one of the first Chabad campus emissaries, personally guided by the Rebbe in his outreach work. At the time of this letter, he was studying in the graduate program at Harvard. He later described how throughout this period, he felt quite disillusioned with his studies, especially after failing some exams. Though he desired to come study in the Yeshivah in 770, the Rebbe continued to encourage him to complete his course. After also failing his first attempt in taking the oral exam, in which he would propose a subject for his dissertation, he wrote to the Rebbe in despair, requesting leave to abandon the course. The Rebbe replied that he should simply take the exam again. This time he passed.
See also letter dated 16 Tammuz, 5716, regarding additional examinations.
For more information and additional letters addressed to him, see letter dated 2 Cheshvan, 5713.
1) See also the Rebbe's note to letter dated 21 Adar I, 5714.
Source: Photocopy of original.
Published: Teshura (Block, 2 Teves, 5778).
Passing Exams
Source & Link: תשורה 5777-4-2 בלאק: Alternative Source: