By the Grace of G-d 11th of Adar Sheini,5730 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter, which reached me with considerable delay.

In your letter you write about your desire to combine minyonim of two synagogues, etc. and ask my advice.

Without going into detail, I can only say that now is the time to do everything possible to increase the number of active synagogues, and not to decrease the number, regardless of the motives. For it is surely unlikely that a combined synagogue will have the full program of activities which each had separately. Consequently it might weaken the attachment of some members to the synagogue, and reduce their active participation, etc., all of which of course is not desirable. Thus, as a rule, every effort should be made to maintain the existence of Jewish synagogues, even if there are some special local conditions which might suggest otherwise. For conditions vary, whereas the principle remains the same.

Since I am replying to your letter, I consider it my duty to react to one point in your letter, namely that in your synagogue, in your words, “Upstairs is not kosher for a combined minyan."

Judging by the spirit of your letter, I trust it is unnecessary to emphasize at length that the first and foremost obligation of a Rabbi is that everything relating to the synagogue and congregation should be kosher, especially and emphatically when it is a matter concerning many participants of different backgrounds, etc. In such a case, the Rabbi’s responsibility is all the greater to see the proper standards, for a member will think, and with some justice, that if he is half as kosher as the Rabbi, or even less than that, it is quite sufficient for him. Thus when there are matters which, as you write, are not kosher, and the Rabbi himself participates in them, or condones them, it is clear what logical conclusions this may lead to insofar as the members are concerned.

In other words, the first and foremost duty of a Rabbi is to see to it that everything in regard to the congregation should be not only kosher but “kosher I’mehadrin min ha’mehadrin,” for then there is hope that insofar as the members are concerned, it will be “kosher I’mehadririn", and insofar as the members’ children are concerned, it will be at least kosher even if not I’mehadrin.

Our Sages have assured us that G-d does not deal despotically with His creatures, and does not require of any one of us to do anything beyond our capacities. Therefore, whatever the obligation or duty, it is clear that G-d provides the necessary capacities to fulfill them.

To conclude apropos to the present days approaching Purim, the Megilla reminds us that the secret to our survival, and to our overcoming all the Hamans in history, beginning from the first Haman until this day is: “One people, dispersed and scattered among the nations, whose laws are different from those of other nations, and they do not practice the laws of the king.” This was the “charge” which Haman made, but since Esther and Mordechai did not deny it, it shows that the statement is basically true, and that this is indeed where the strength of the Jewish people and their survival lies. Being part of the Megilla, it is part of the Torah, meaning “instruction” (horo’oh), an eternal message which holds good at all times and in all places. And because Mordechai “did not kneel nor bow down” he eventually not only overcame Haman, but was elevated to the highest position in the land, and Jews triumphed both materially and spiritually. There is no need to elaborate further on this.

Wishing you a happy had inspiring Purim,

With blessing,