By the Grace of G-d 17th of Sivan, 5738 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter of June 15th in which you write about the atmosphere on the campuses and the prevailing danger of alienation from Yiddishkeit, and even basic moral standards in general, suggesting that there should be more Torah committed youth that would be active on the campuses and help stem the tide.

Needless to say, if this manpower were available in adequate numbers, it would provide the best solution, just as much of the problem would be solved if Jews were in general not a small minority, but a majority.

However, we must reckon with the facts, and the situation is such that there is a great shortage of Torah activists, while at the same time the danger persists and grows from day to day. Thus, you cannot afford to wait until more activists could be found for all the campuses, but everyone who is alive to the problem and cares for the survival of our people should do what he can to spread Yiddishkeit in his surroundings, with emphasis on the actual performance of Mitzvoth as a daily experience.

Our 3500 years of Jewish history has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that the survival of our people is directly linked with commitment to the observance of the daily Mitzvoth. It is the only factor that has played a decisive role in the survival of our people which has been a small minority in all parts of the world under all sorts of conditions. And although many various deviationist attempts have been made, they were short lived, and only those that were identified with, and committed to, the Torah and Mitzvoth in the daily life, provided the continuity and survival of our people under all circumstances.

Experience has also shown that where there is a firm resolve to promote Yiddishkeit by example and precept, the response has always been very satisfactory, and those who were influenced in this way, in turn became influential, so that a chain reaction is created. One should never underestimate the power of a sincere word coming from the heart, or a good example, since very often they have a lasting impact. In many cases all that is necessary is to provide the ignition which, like a match that can ignite a pyre, or the push of an electric button, can illuminate the soul of a Jew, of which it is written - “A lamp of G-d is the soul of man.”

I trust that the above will provide food for thought and, more importantly, fuel for action, for you and your friends to increase your efforts along the above written lines, and set in motion a chain reaction in your own surroundings, and may G-d grant you hatzlocho.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson