By the Grace of G-d 25th of Shevat, 5733 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I duly received your letter of January the 15th.

In general anything which may have even the remotest connection with "Avoda Zara" is something which a Jew should give a wide berth and have nothing to do with it, not even to have any discussions about it, either with one's self or with others. Even if there is a doubt whether it is "Avoda Zara", it is sufficient reason for a Jew to run away from it.

Needless to say, any possible "benefit" that you mention that one might get from it, you could certainly get through Lehavdil the observance of the Mitzvah of prayer in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch, which goes back to Mattan Torah at Sinai, and which a Jew is duty bound to observe three times a day. Rabbi Lipskar could explain to you in greater detail all about it. It is hardly necessary to emphasize that the benefit you will get from observing Tefillah three times a day is a true and lasting benefit, and incomparably greater to any benefit that one can find in strange pastures, G-d forbid. There is no need to elaborate on this.

I would suggest that you should have your Tefillin checked to make sure they are Kosher, and it would be good also to have the Mezuzos in your home checked.

May G-d grant that you should have good news to report in all above, especially that you are firmly and confidently walking in the path of Torah with inspiration and joy.

Since you wrote your letter in proximity to the Yahrzeit of my father-in-law of saintly memory on the tenth of Shevat, about which you no doubt heard from Rabbi Lipskar, I trust that you are familiar with the significance of this day, especially with the life and work of the Baal Hahilulo, and how much hope and confidence he placed in our Jewish youth for the preservation of our sacred heritage.

With blessing,

For the Lubavitcher Rebbe שליט"א

By Nissan Mindel