By the Grace of G-d 14 Sivan, 5743 Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. . . .
Greeting and Blessing:
Your letter reached me with considerable delay, and my reply has been further delayed because of the intervening Yom Tov of Mattan Torah. I apologize for the belated acknowledgement.
To begin with the good news, I was gratified to read about your communal activities, particularly in connection with the Synagogue which, no doubt has the double sanctity of being a Bet Kneset as well as a Bet Medrash, for prayer and for Torah study, as a synagogue should be ideally and in fact.
May G-d grant that the accomplishments in the past will stimulate even greater efforts in the future, in accordance with the Rabbinic saying "Whoever has 100, desires 200; and having attained 200 desires (not merely 300, but) 400.” If ambition grows with success even in material things, how much more so should it be in regard to the real and eternal values of Torah and mitzvot.
Referring to the main topic of your letter, there is surely no need to point out that according to the Halachah (and it is also a matter of common sense) one should not express an opinion, much less make a judgment, in a situation unless one has all the facts and has heard the views of all concerned. Especially where a Rabbi happens to be involved. Thus, in as much as the situation you wrote about is the first I heard about it - I certainly am not in a position to say anything on this matter. Besides, it is not part of my functions to act as arbitrator in cases of disagreement and the like.
The only thing I can say is that having known Rabbi. . . for many years, I am certain that he requires no urging in matters that are connected with Kiddush Hashem, or the honor of Rabbanut, and the like. There is surely no need for me to dwell on this matter. I am certain you will accept these remarks in the spirit they have been made.
As requested, I will remember you and all the members of your family mentioned in your letter when visiting the holy resting place of my father-in-law of saintly memory.
With esteem and blessing,
Notes and sources
Published: The Letter and the Spirit, Vol 2 (Nissan Mindel Publications, 2013), 452.
Note: Letters printed in "The Letter and the Spirit" are from the Archives of Rabbi Nissan Mindel A"H, the Rebbe's personal secretary entrusted with writing up the Rebbe's orally dictated responses. The “Nissan Mindel Archives” are comprised of secretarial copies, including first drafts, and may have subsequently been published with editorial changes. Therefore the letters as they appear in the book may not be the final signed version.