By the Grace of G-d 16th of Teves, 5729Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessings

I have just received your letter of December 29th.

Thank you very much for the news of your pressing for the earliest possible publication of the Challenge. Needless to say, your remark that in volume it is going to be considerably more than originally envisaged, surely this is a good thing, for the additional quantity will be more than outweighed by the quality. May G-d grant that it should bring the desired fruits, and the fruits of fruits, also in a much greater measure than anticipated.

Following the order of your letter, I note that you do not mention anything about Mrs. Rader’s business, from which I gather that it is progressing satisfactorily.

I was particularly gratified to read the detailed report about the progress of your children. It is the first time that you have written about them in such detail, and it certainly has given me much pleasure to read about them. I noted, of course, what you wrote about your older daughter, namely that it was suggested to her to study at a seminary, but she rejected the idea. Judging by your writing, this is something that belongs in the past, and may G-d grant that it should also be for the good in every respect, and that you should in general have much and true Yiddish Nachas from each and every one of your children, and to quote the traditional blessing: "To bring them up to a life of Torah, Chuppah and Good Deeds.["]

It is, of course, unnecessary at all to excuse yourself for the length of the letter in writing about your children, bless them. On the contrary, this is exactly what I had hoped you would do, as I had urged you to do in the past. I trust that in the future too you will write fully about their progress.

Hoping to hear good news from you,

With blessing,

M. Schneerson