By the Grace of G-dPesach Sheni, 5734Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Your letter with the enclosure reached me with some delay. I trust that you enjoyed a Kosher and happy Pesach and that the inspiration and joy of it, as in the case of all our festivals, will permeate each and all the days of the year. Especially in the essential aspect of Pesach, which is the “Festival of Our Liberation” — that there should be a growing measure of liberation from all distracting things, including those you mentioned in your letter.

Above all, that you should enjoy true Yiddish Torah nachas from your children, including also your “spiritual children,” namely all those who benefit from your good influence in spreading true Yiddishkeit, in an ever growing measure.

With regard to your question in reference to our discussion about the proposed book on the subject of family life, in accordance with the new approach, based on Masters and Johnson, you will recall that I pointed out the need of keeping such a work within the proper bounds of tznius. For, while the matter of tznius is essential in all walks of life, it is particularly important when it concerns the establishment of a family life, when it is imperative that it be based on the solid foundations of our Torah to ensure that it should be a healthy one in every respect. However, you ask that I should clarify the position further, so I will add the following remarks, to the extent that it is at all possible to do so in a letter.

It is necessary to bear in mind that if the book is intended for professionals, etc., and will be written in a style which is scientific and technical, in Latin terms, etc., then one could take a greater amount of liberty, inasmuch as the book would be confined primarily to a limited circle of specialists in the field and especially, in view of the fact that the reader will be considerably beyond the critical age of teenagers.

On the other hand, if this book is intended for a wider range of readers and laymen and would be so advertised, etc., then it is imperative to avoid all such terms and expressions that might incite the yetzer. Besides, in such a case the exposition of the method would in any case not be so important, but only the results, and insofar as the method is concerned, the reader could be referred to a doctor to receive the necessary instructions.

I am aware that we live in an age of such permissiveness that some liberty on the part of the author may not be harmful. However, this argument is fallacious, for even if there is a person who wishes to harm himself, it does not give anyone the right to harm him. Moreover, and this is essential too, where the author represents and speaks in the name of Torah and Torah living, the book would inevitably provide a stamp of approval for the use of the expressions, as if they were legitimate from the Torah viewpoint, with all the inevitable consequences.

I trust there is no need to elaborate to you on the above. I must, however, add one further point, namely that in such matters Sfeko l’Chumro; in other words, where there is any doubt as to whether or not to use a certain sentence or expression, it is wiser to avoid it.

On the matter of buying a house, which together with being a private domicile, should also have room for use in the work of spreading Yiddishkeit, it is well to bear in mind the great need, in our day and age, of spreading the Torah and mitzvos in every possible way. In view of this, I already mentioned when you were here, that to make it easier to materialize the above, we would participate in the purchase price of the house. It seems to me that this financial participation should be approximately between one fourth and one third of the cost. The actual amount within this range is left to your discretion, since you are better able to judge. The terms would also correspond to the terms of the payments for the whole house, on a pro rata basis.

In order to make it possible to attain the maximum results and especially inasmuch as hitherto there has been no precedent of such a “partnership,” it would be advisable not to call that room or section of the house which may be used for the said activity by the name of Chabad or Lubavitch or the like. It would not do to make any precedent of such a partnership in other places, for such an exception is made in your case only and it should remain so between us.

You do not mention anything about the results of your visit to Europe and Eretz Yisroel. Nor do you refer to your position in the scientific world. This gives me the opportunity to reiterate that, in addition to the fact that it is always necessary for a Jew to utilize all his capacities which G-d bestowed upon him, in your case it is particularly important that you should make the fullest use of your reputation and standing in the scientific world to promote true Torah living in the daily life, with emphasis on the actual practice and fulfillment to the mitzvos. After all, even in science the ultimate proof of any theory is in its being capable of practical application.

Hoping to hear good news from you in all above,

With blessing,