B.H. 1st of Rosh Chodesh Adar I, 5727Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Your letter of 12th of Shevat reached me with some delay.

. . Insofar as the Shidduch per se is concerned, you have no doubt resolved, as is also evident from your writing, to establish a truly Jewish home on the foundations of the Torah and Mitzvos in the every-day life as a way of life. Consequently, as a matter of principle it would be a suitable match.

However, I must at once raise a fundamental question, namely, that if you contemplate to postpone the wedding until May, 1968 or later, then for obvious reasons there is no point in getting engaged some 18 months in advance. This would be true even if you were not both living in the same town, and even more so since you do.

The above is my reply not only in regard to getting engaged at this time, but even about considering yourselves candidates for engagement and continuing to see each other, etc.

On the other hand, if you are really serious about each other and have resolved, as above, to establish a truly Jewish home together, then why not consider an early wedding, regardless of the date of graduation, as has become a general practice in such situations among studying youths, both in religious and non-religious circles. I know of many such couples where it worked out very well.

In the light of the above, I suggest you should reconsider the matter and plan on early wedding, as early as possible, and G-d will surely you bless it with Hatzlocho.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson