By the Grace of G-d 15th of Av, 5744 Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mrs. . . .
Blessing and Greeting:
Your letter of the 24th of Tammuz has just been received. I was so astonished at its contents, that I wondered whether it merited a reply altogether. However, since your letter cast aspirations on two Jews whom I know personally, I decided to reply to your letter in order to set the record straight.
1) Rabbi . . . is an excellent pedagogue and educator, who has to his credit thousands of students in Eretz Yisrael and in other parts of the world. Inasmuch as a considerable segment of his students are of marriageable age, he has been instrumental in arranging Shidduchim and the vast majority of them have been highly successful.
Similarly, Rabbi . . . whom you also mention in your letter, is a recognized spiritual leader in his city, recognized by both so-called secular circles as well as religious circles of all factions.
2) The Mitzvo of Kibbud Av v’Em is, of course, one of the Ten Commandments. In the Code of Jewish Law, the Shulchan Aruch, there is a special section devoted to this subject, including the obligation of children to honor their parents even if the latters’ personal conduct is not always in accord with the Shulchan Aruch.
3) There is a definite Halocho in the Shulchan Aruch to the effect that a Jewish marriage requires the consent of both the Chosson and the Kalo, without coercion. This was the rule even in olden days, when coercion sometimes did occur; not to mention the present day and age, when the young generation is very independent-minded.
4) Needless to say, the said Rabbis, when consulted for advice and guidance, strongly encourage the inquirers to conduct themselves in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch.
In light of all the above, which is well known and a matter of course, your letter is altogether incomprehensible, just as there is no basis for your assertion that there is a “Lubavitch religion,” which, with all due respect, is plain nonsense.
I hope and pray that since every Jewish woman has the supreme task of being an Akeres Habayis, the foundation of the home, and the Baalebosto, you will be on guard not to permit any misconceptions to enter your home and will, moreover, help other Jews to avoid similar pitfalls.
With blessing,
Notes and sources
Source: Unsent letter
Published: The Letter and the Spirit, Vol 5 (Nissan Mindel Publications, 2019), 329.
Note: The above letter, found in the archives of the Rebbe’s Secretariat, was dictated by the Rebbe and transcribed by a secretary. The final version of this letter, however, was not reviewed or signed by the Rebbe and was never sent to the intended recipient, for reasons unknown.
The above should be taken into account while studying this letter.