By the Grace of G-d18th of Menachem Av, 5725Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I duly received your letter and I was pleased to note in it your sincere concern for the plight of our fellow Jews. I cannot let this opportunity pass without bringing up a certain question, which is particularly relevant to those who wish to do something constructive in their behalf.¹ Moreover this painful question is being asked by the young generation of our fellow co-religionists in that part of the world. It is this:

How is it that insofar as they are concerned, they are expected to risk everything for the freedom to study the Torah and fulfill its commandments, yet their fellow Jews who live in happier circumstances and have complete religious freedom, seem to be quite unconcerned about their own religious duties? It is hard for them to understand that the younger generation especially, who have no economic responsibilities as yet and are free to dedicate themselves to the study of the Torah and to living a full religious life, nevertheless show no interest or inclination to do that.

For, according to the information which our brethren receive and judging also by the tourists whom they see, it seems to them incomprehensible that American Jews are not eager to show that they are observant Jews, to the extent that there are such who, on seeing a Jew with a beard and peyos, or one displaying his tzitzis instead of admiring him, ridicule him.

In the light of these circumstances, many of our co-religionists, who are really suffering martyrdom for their religious convictions, as well as others there, including authorities,² cannot help wondering how sincere are the efforts of their fellow Jews in their behalf.

It is superfluous to add that this state of affairs has greatly shaken the determination of large numbers of our young people and has undermined the state of Torah and mitzvos in that part of the world to a considerable extent.

Much more can be said on this painful subject, but the above must suffice.

Needless to say, it is the rule of the Torah that “A transgression does not extinguish a mitzvah."³ Those of our fellow Jews who have alienated themselves from the Jewish way of life nevertheless deserve credit for wishing to help their fellow Jews who are loyal to their Jewish heritage and every good deed carries its own reward. However, the question is not of merits and rewards. But the issue here is that the impression which our brethren aboard receive with regard to their fellow Jews here, insofar as the younger generation is concerned, are most damaging and are a direct factor in weakening their determination to preserve the Jewish way of life at such a cost.

It is surely unnecessary for me to add that I am not in the habit of looking for faults in anyone or to condemn anyone, G-d forbid. What I have said is not merely an expression of my own painful feelings, but rather the expression of hope that sooner or later our Jewish youth in the free countries of the world will recognize the truth. And there can only be one truth, not two, nor can there be any concessions insofar as the truth is concerned. I hope and pray that our youth will recognize the truth of the Torah, called Toras Emes and with the characteristic qualities of youth, will draw the inevitable conclusions and will live up to them in the fullest measure. To be sure many of them will see the challenge, which requires them to make a complete reversal in their daily life. I am certain, however, that they are capable of doing it. If the few lines in this letter will help someone in this direction, it will have justified my writing them. No one can really evaluate the tremendous powers of a Jewish soul, the Divine soul with which every Jew is endowed.

With blessing,

By (secretary)