By the Grace of G-d 4th of Tishrei, 5733 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

This is in reply to your letter which reached me with considerable delay. In it you write about the problem of rectifying the Law of Return and express some reservations about the way to go about it, etc.

Needless to say, it is difficult to bring out and clearly and adequately expound all the essential aspects of the problem in the course of a letter. Actually in this case it is not even necessary, since so much has been written about it. You could also obtain if necessary, further elucidation of the matter through a personal conversation with the leaders of the Lubavitch House in London, who are fully acquainted with all the issues involved.

However, I will here emphasize only several points which have unfortunately been distorted.

1. It is an accepted rule among all seekers of truth, whether they be Jews or not - “Accept the truth from whomever speaks it.” Unfortunately and sad to say, when it comes to the said problem, one of the first considerations is who put forth the amendment to rectify it and what possible motivations might be behind it, etc., so much so that the matter is weighed in terms of preserving coalition and other extraneous considerations, whereas the problem itself touches upon the very foundation of our faith and the preservation of our people.

2. The next point, which is also essential, can be put into relief by simple illustration: a person who is a specialist in a particular field, say mathematics, it is not degrading to him if he is not an expert in another field, say medicine, inasmuch as medicine is not related to mathematics and not part of that discipline. To become an authority on medicine, a person must study it for years both in theory and in practice and must also believe in it and be dedicated to it. However, when it comes to religious matters, even such a vital and basic matter as who is a Jew, which is purely a question of Halachah, everybody has an opinion on it, and seems to consider it degrading if he were not to express it publicly and even strongly defend it.

3. Related to the above and part of it, is the point that the question of giyur in accordance with the halachah is not a question of the relationship of one Jew to another Jew, but it is a question of who is a Jew and who is not a Jew.

4. The extent of absurdity to which this problem has been reduced can be seen also from the fact that the question as to whether conversion should be according to Halacah or be left unspecified, was decided by a majority vote in which also non-Jewish members of the Knesset, including Christians and Moslems, as well as members who are on record as being anti-religious, had an equal vote and participated in the passing of the Bill, together with the other members.

May G-d grant that inasmuch as we have now entered into the new year, which is ushered in with the three prayers of the day — Malchuyos, Zichronos and Shofros— may each and every one of us reaffirm the reign of the Holy One blessed be He, remember it not only on Rosh Hashono but also throughout the year and proclaim it loud and clear, like a Shofar throughout the environment, both immediate and distant.

Wishing you and yours a Chasimo u’Gmar Cbasimo Tova,

With blessing,