By the Grace of G-d 10th of Iyar, 5725 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

Your letter reached me with considerable delay. In it you write that in light of your experience and evaluation, you see an urgent need for a certain type of school in your community. On the other hand you are apprehensive of the opposition that may be encountered from the “political view,” though you do not think that this should stop the effort to establish such a school.

Needless to say I fully agree with you that when it comes to a question of true Torah Chinuch for Jewish children, in fulfillment of the commandment which you cite, namely “And thou shall teach them diligently to thy children,”¹ one should not be stymied by political or similar considerations which may oppose this vital cause. However, this approach is the proper one if and when the opposing forces are not sufficiently strong to nullify the establishment of such a school. For if they are so powerful, then it is obvious that it is better to postpone the establishment of the school, rather than establish it only to have it uprooted soon after. For such a calamity would have a lasting effect and would jeopardize the future establishment of the school on a permanent basis.

I do not mean to say that we should wait until all opposition is dissolved. I only emphasize that we should proceed only when we know that the opposition, whatever it is, is not so powerful as to be overwhelming. For as you surely know, when the . . . was established in your community, there was quite a strong opposition, which continued its opposition even after the establishment of the . . . and it still strives to undermine it and bring about its cessation. But when the effort was initiated, there was reason to hope that with G-d’s help the most the opposition could do would be to make the effort harder, and even much harder, but yet it would not be powerful enough to abolish the whole thing. This is borne out by experience. Thus, if the present project seems to be in serious jeopardy and there is a reasonable doubt as to whether such a school, if and when established, would not survive very long, G-d forbid, it is better to wait for a more positive climate.

This brings me to the essential aspect of my letter, namely that the change in climate, mentioned above, is very much in your hands and in the hands of other residents of your community who share your views and feelings. It is up to you and your friends to create the favorable climate for such a school, by bringing this vital need to the ever-growing attention of the community. In this way, while you may not succeed in silencing the opposing voices, you will with G-d’s help, succeed in weakening them on the one hand, and strengthening your own forces on the other, so that the school could eventually be established on a permanent basis.

Unfortunately at this time, I do not see that the proper climate for this type of school has yet arrived in your community. On the hand we are assured that the heart of every Jew is awake and conscious; but only needs to be fired with enthusiasm in order to overcome difficulties. I am gratified to note that you have this enthusiasm and I can only hope and pray that not only will you keep it up, but that you will be able to fan the fires of enthusiasm among an ever growing chorus of individual and groups to join in an ever growing chorus for a demand for this type of school. If the . . . program has been successful, with G-d’s help, even though it was the first of its kind, surely the present project should materialize in due course.

Hoping to hear good news from you,

With blessing,

By (secretary)