Letter a

By the Grace of G-d 28 Elul, 5741 Brooklyn. N. Y.

Mr. Ezra A. Toeg

Jewish Association of the Philippines

Commercial Center, POB 729

Makahl, Rizal 3117

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Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to receive a personal report from our esteemed mutual friend Rabbi B. Levy, who also brought me your letter of Rosh Chodesh Elul and the photos of the Even Pinah ceremony.

Many, many thanks for the good news (hat the construction of the new Shul and Mikveh has been initiated. This provides the confident hope that it will proceed at full speed ahead, both in regard to the Shul with the Mechitza as well as the Mikveh (Lhavdil), especially as in all such endeavors there is the assurance of Toras Emes that Hashem helps. How much more so in an endeavor that is for Zechus Horrabim. May G-d grant that it be completed even sooner than the most optimistic expectations, and that both are well attended and fully made use of.

The Zechus of the above will certainly stand each and everyone of the leaders and members of the community in good stead to be blessed with all good

With prayerful wishes for khsiva va’chasima tovah leshana tovah umetukah.

and with blessing

(signature)

P.S. I was particularly gratified to note that the children of your community are being signed up for the special Sefer Torah being written in behalf of the Jewish children the world over, in the walled Holy City of Jerusalem. You probably know that the first Sefer Torah has been completed, uniting 304,805 children (as many as there are letters in the Torah), and that the second Sefer Torah is in progress.

Notes and sources

During a trip to Manila, Rabbi Berel Levy (a Lubavitch Chossid and the director of the OK Kashrus organization), visited the local Shul and found that it did not have a Mechitza. After talking to the congregation, they decided to erect one, and to build a Mikvah in the city as well (Living Torah Program 1037).

After Rabbi Levy’s passing, his son, Rabbi Don Yoel Levy, brought an individual to the Rebbe for Sunday dollars, introducing him as “Mr. Ezra Taog from the Philippines, he built the Mikvah together with my father”. The rebbe asked him if the Mikvah is functioning to which he replied that it is along with the Mechitza in the Shul. The Rebbe replied “Thank you very much . . .It’s a special source of Nachas for all the Jewish people” (Living Torah Program 668).