By the Grace of G-d10th of Adar I, 5727Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

I am in receipt of your express delivery letter as well as the previous one. As requested, I am replying to your correspondence ahead of its turn.

It is not quite clear to me from your letter as to what your actual position is, that is to say, what matters are within your control and what matters are beyond your control, particularly in regard to your resignation. Apparently, you seem to be speaking of your resignation as Headmistress of the Girls’ Boarding School, for your resignation as Governor has already been accepted long ago. On the other hand, it seems from your letter that the project of establishing the girls’ school has been dropped and if so, it is not quite clear to me what talk there can be about a resignation from the position of Headmistress of a school the establishment of which had been nullified, unless the decision is only to postpone the establishment of this school.

In view of the above uncertainties, it is difficult for me to formulate a definite opinion.

At any rate, what is clear to me is that, as you write, you are not in a position to consider giving up your house before August. This is a decision which I think you ought to uphold, at least until you will have your own good reasons to move out earlier, but not to move out under any pressure.

A further point is this. It seems from your letter that the abolition of the idea of establishing the girls’ school is definite and that your resignation is also definite, though as mentioned above, I cannot be sure to the full 100%. However, as you told me when you were here, one of the Wolfsons¹ is strongly in favor of establishing the school and this was also your impression when you discussed the matter with Rabbi J. Moreover, you write that Lord S. opposed your resignation. In light of the above circumstances, even according to the plain sense of your letter that the meeting resulted in a complete defeat with a majority of ten against five, this is not necessarily irrevocable. It has often happened before that one resolution was reversed by another, all the more so since undoubtedly there are more than fifteen members in the Board and those that were absent may join the minority at the previous meeting, to force a reconsideration of the whole subject.

Next, you mention about the project of establishing an institution of the type of Carmel in Eretz Yisroel, to educate on a bi-lingual basis students coming from English-speaking countries, particularly England. Apparently the proposition was made with a view to establishing such an institution under the headship of yourself and your son, or yourself alone. My thoughts on this project are as follows: every project that is placed on the agenda faces all sorts of difficulties before it can materialize, if indeed it can be materialized at all. I surely do not have to tell you about the present economic situation in Eretz Yisroel, making this time most unsuitable for [t]he creation of new institutions, particularly educational institutions. On the contrary, the tendency and perhaps even definite policy, of the authorities is at present to economize by the closing down of a number of existing institutions and to concentrate on a reduced number. It is easy to visualize what would be the reaction to the establishment of a new institution.

Moreover, to use such projection of the establishment of a new institution, as a basis for your emigrating from England, offers a weak basis. It should further be remembered that Bar Ilan has also been founded primarily for English-speaking students, though the American system of education may differ from the British. Nevertheless, the establishment of a Carmel type institution might be considered to some extent as a duplication. The same is true of Rabbi K.’s institute in Jerusalem, which is also designed to absorb students from abroad, not to mention the Machon Rabbi Gold, etc.

In view of the above, if it is a question of making a visit in Eretz Yisroel to look into various possibilities, among them also the suggestion of Dr. H., such a visit is noncommittal. On the other hand, there is no basis to use such a proposed visit to give up anything in England before anything has been ascertained in Eretz Yisroel.

Now I will take the liberty of touching upon two points which I did not wish to touch upon when you were here together with your sister, without knowing whether you wished me to touch upon them in your sister’s presence or would be inclined to go into the matter at all. Yet they have a bearing upon your general situation and correspondence.

I am referring to the point which your sister mentioned in passing, but you did not react to it; consequently, I let it go at that. It is the remark which your sister made to the effect that you were “married to Carmel.” Needless to say, this is in itself not a “tachlis.” To be sure, such a matter as a shidduch is not one that can be resolved in a day or two, especially in your situation, but precisely because such a matter cannot be concluded quickly, I trust that you are giving it due consideration, to keep your mind and eyes open for a suitable person. The relevance of this to the problem of a girls’ school is that, however important a girls’ school may be for the perpetuation of the tradition of your late husband of blessed memory and its continuation in the family, etc., it does not at all justify your neglecting the matter of a suitable shidduch for you. Besides, your personal future is bound to affect substantially the peace of mind of your children and their eventual success in their undertakings.

The above is relevant also in another sense. When one faces a situation which presents a considerable disappointment in a matter which appears to be very basic in one’s life, etc., it is easier to bear it if one realizes that in the final analysis, however this matter seems to be basic in one’s life, it is not, after all the most basic matter and certainly not the whole content of one’s life.

The second point which I wish to broach here, and I will be candid as I was in regard to the first point above, is in regard to the matter of finances. As you recall, you asked me once if I could make a suggestion to you in regard to capital investment. After I replied to you, I heard nothing further about this. My question therefore is not in regard to any specifics, but in regard to the general financial situation and whether there is any way in which I can be of any help, in which case I would be glad to be of assistance, within the limits of possibility.

May G-d grant that you should have good news to report in all the above.

With blessing,