By the Grace of G-dErev Shavuos, 5736Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter.

First of all, you ought to clarify your position through an expert lawyer in regard to parole and the possibility of reducing your sentence, and what can be done in this direction.

At any rate, it is clear that your good conduct will surely be helpful to attain the above, apart from the fact that it is necessary also for its own sake, regardless of where a person is. May G-d grant that you should have no problem in regard to the above.

As for the question of enrolling in a college, every college has, of course, its requirements, and you should therefore try to ascertain from the college of your choice as to what requirements are necessary for admission. For example, the Talmudical College that you mention has certain levels of knowledge in the Written and Oral Torah that is required, but you could certainly find out all the details if you will write to that institution.

At this time before Shavuos, the Festival of Our Receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai, I want to share the following thought with you. As you surely know, the Torah was given to our people 49 days after their release from Egyptian bondage. This interval served as a period of preparation, in which our ancestors endeavored to improve their very nature, realizing that freedom from physical slavery is not complete in itself until one attained spiritual freedom and becomes master of one’s own nature. Indeed, as they had been informed by Moses, the liberation from Egypt was a prelude to receive the Torah at Sinai. For the Torah and precepts which G-d gave us are our true guide in life, and the way to attain true spiritual freedom.

May G-d grant that you should accept the Torah and mitzvot in the same spirit that our ancestors accepted it, and that you should go from strength to strength in implementing it in your daily life, in a happy frame of mind, and with confidence, knowing that “He who is determined to purify himself, receives help from On High.”

Hoping to hear good news from you in all above, and wishing you a joyous and inspiring festival,

With blessing,