By the Grace of G-d 22nd of Cheshvan, 5736 Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter, and many thanks for the good news about your activities in your present community.

I venture to hope that what you describe in your letter is only a part of your activities, all the more so since you have already been there three years, a period of time which, as you know, constitutes chazoko, certainly establishing your status as Moro D'asro. In other words, if a Rov is the real master of the place from the moment he accepts his Rabbinic position, even though there is a City Hall and officials, etc. certainly he should fully assert his title as Moro D'asro after a period of years.

Moreover, having come from Manchester, there is also the Halachic ruling that in such a case the strictures of both places apply to the person. In the present case it would mean that you are expected to raise the levels of your present community to those of Manchester insofar as the standards of Yiddishkeit are concerned. There is no need to add that when the hashgocho gives one a certain task, it also provides the necessary capacities to carry it out.

Now that we are approaching the month of Kislev, which has special significance for Chasidim - particularly in view of your family tradition - in that it contains the “new year" of Chasidus, the month which for all Jews is highlighted also by the festival of Chanukah, we are reminded once again of the special messages of these auspicious days. The common feature to both is that every Jew is expected to spread the light of Torah and mitzvot in a growing measure, with the addition that the Chosid is expected to do that with Chasidic animation and enthusiasm. Furthermore, the time to light the Chanukah candles is "when the sun has set" - in other words, when darkness falls all around that is the time when a Jew has to kindle the lights of Torah and mitzvot and in a steadily growing measure. Here again, I am confident that you are doing so with the fullest confidence and authority of a Moro D'asro, and setting the pace for all those who look up to you for leadership and guidance.

With blessing,