By the Grace of G-d 20th of Menachem Av, 5725 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

After not hearing from you for some time, I received your recent letters. Thank you very much for the good news about your sister’s having been accepted at Gateshead.¹ May G-d grant that you should have further good news to report in all the matters about which you write.

You refer to what you have heard about my disapproval of drinking Mashke, except during a Farbrengen and the like, Needless to say, this does not refer to drinking wine for Kiddush and Havdolo. Among the reservations which I mentioned, is also the situation where an objective party considers it advisable to make an exception under certain conditions. Furthermore, the restriction applies to people up to the age of 40, and the limit is up to three liquor cups (jiggers).²

I was, of course, interested to read what you wrote about the progress of the other young people, and no doubt you will continue to exercise your good influence to bring them ever closer to Torah and Mitzvoth. For in all matters of goodness and holiness, however satisfactory things may seem at any particular time, there is always room for improvement.

You do not mention anything about your wife and children, from which I assume that all are well.

With blessing

M. Schneerson