By the Grace of G-d20th of Shevat, 5724 Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Owing to a technical reason, the enclosed letters were not mailed. In the meantime, your Pidyon letter was received in behalf of Mr. A. Harris, which will be read at the holy resting place of my father-in-law of saintly memory.

In reply to your question what you should answer to..., generally speaking, the approach depends on your knowledge of his character and disposition, etc. However, one important point is this. If he really does not want to delude himself or deceive himself, he should carefully consider the following: A young man who was brought up in the observance, of the Torah and Mitzvoth, and has been a sincere observer and believer, and then suddenly decides to take an "easier” way, and drift away from religion and religious precepts, it is hardly likely that the change was due to his suddenly becoming a mature philosopher who has discovered a new spiritual world-outlook, based on objective reasons. It is more likely, as it often happens, that the Yetzer Hora is trying to alienate him from the Torah and Mitzvoth, to "relieve” him of the duty to observe all the positive Mitzvoth, and to give him free license to "enjoy" many restrictions and prohibitions which the Torah imposes on a holy life. In doing so, and in order to accomplish the objective, the Yetzer Hora must provide a rationale and a justification for this change, in order that the victim's conscience should not trouble him. As a result of the bribery which the Yetzer Hora offers (the gratifications of temptations, etc.), the objectivity of the reason and intellectual is undermined, and the person is led to believe that he has found the "true" rational and intelligent way of spiritual fulfillment, through the love of all humanity, whereas what is really motivating the person is the self-love and self-indulgence.

With blessing

By Nissan Mindel