By the Grace of G‑d21st of Shevat, 5746Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

For various reasons, including an accumulation of correspondence in connection with Yud-Shevat, etc., I am not certain if all your correspondence has reached me. However, some of your past correspondence has also not been fully replied to for various reasons, and judging by the trend of events in Eretz Yisroel, I think that the questions you had raised before are still relevant now.

According to my evaluation, I assume that essentially the questions are connected with the basic issue, namely what is my attitude towards the various questions that you had raised, and if it still remains the same.

I can say that my attitude and opinion have even become stronger in the course of time. To repeat briefly:

1) A person, especially a Jew, and particularly one who has a prominent position of influence in his surroundings, should try to arrange his plans in a way that would produce the maximum influence and benefit in one’s surroundings; with personal benefits and advantages being of secondary consideration. Although in practice, we have seen that Hatzlocho in the area of public good, usually brings a greater measure of Hatzlocho in one’s personal affairs.

2) In your case, and your influence, it has been shown, especially in recent years, that you have had a considerable impact on college youth as well as faculties, even more than one might have anticipated.

3) There is no need to point out to you how important is your influence on Jewish college youth everywhere. At the same time, it is obvious that the Jewish college population in the U.S.A. is quantitatively very much greater than in any other country, including Eretz Yisroel. Therefore, your field of influence is so much greater in the U.S.A. than in Eretz Yisroel. This relevant situation does not seem likely to change radically in the very near future.

4) In light of all the above, it is my opinion that your main base of activities has to be in the U.S.A., though it does not necessarily preclude periodic intervals, of several weeks or several months, in other countries.

No doubt you heard that a great deal of attention in recent years has been given to the need to promote the so-called “Seven Noahite Laws” in the gentile society. This has always been a Jewish obligation, except that historically it was impossible to carry it out because of the dangers involved in any effort to influence the gentile society in which Jews lived in the Diaspora. But now that there is no such danger, and, on the contrary, the climate has become quite conducive for such an activity, the said obligation has come into force and is also of “some” consideration. I mention this only as an additional reason for my opinion outlined above. Moreover, such activity in the U.S.A. also has an important bearing on the general situation of Jews and Yiddishkeit, which surely needs no elaboration to you.

I may add also a further consideration, namely that being active as a member of a faculty in the U.S.A., you probably could have a greater influence even on our youth in Eretz Yisroel than you would have if you were to hold a similar position in Eretz Yisroel.

To conclude with the Jewish custom to connect everything in time—we are still in the auspicious month of Shevat, highlighted by the Yahrzeit Hilulo of my father-in-law of saintly memory, the Rebbe, on Yud-Shevat, and are surely still under the impact of remembering his life’s work and selfless dedication, with which you are fully familiar.

I have a suspicion that you may not quite fully agree with all, or some, of my remarks relative to your situation, so now I will say no more on the subject.

With prayerful wishes to you and each and all of your family, and

With esteem and blessing,

M. Schneerson