By the Grace of G‑d
20th of Elul, 5720
Brooklyn, N.Y.
[September 12, 1960]

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your two letters of August 22nd and 26th.

With regard to the question of the Rabbi who has left, and you ask my opinion about the candidacy of Rabbi Liberoff, generally speaking, it seems that he is a suitable candidate. As for particulars, it depends what his duties would be, but surely everything could be arranged with the help of Anash.

With regard to the question of the merger between the two Shuls, I do not think that this is a good idea. For one thing, there is the question of Nusach, and for another, this is the time when the number of Shuls should be increased rather than decreased. Furthermore, you write that the other congregation is “small-minded,” etc., which seems to indicate that there would be room for friction, etc.

On the question of arranging an affair on behalf of the activities of Lubavitch, I do not see why people want to postpone it until Purim, inasmuch as time is of the essence and the activities demand support and expansion all the time. Therefore, it seems to me that the sooner the affair is arranged, the better it would be. Even if it has to be connected with a festival day, surely Chanukah comes earlier, and, being for eight days, it offers an opportunity to select the most suitable day of the week for this purpose.

In this connection I might again recall to your mind the story of the fundraiser, who, on receiving a check to cover a pledge, rebuked the donor. When the surprised donor asked him why he deserved the rebuke, the fundraiser answered, “Had you brought it earlier, I could have had another pledge from you since then.”

As for your daughter's training to become a Hebrew teacher, you do not write how well this fits in with her studies at present. But the very fact that you ask my opinion on the advisability of her training for a Hebrew teacher at this time, suggests that it can be arranged so that her present studies would not be affected, and if so, it would be advisable.

To conclude on a word of thanks, I recently had the opportunity to view the film of the Lag B’Omer parade in London which you were kind enough to send me. It gave me much pleasure, and thank you very much.

Hoping to hear good news from you, and wishing you again a Ksivo vachasimo, toivo, including, of course, a greater improvement in your business affairs,

With blessing,

M. Schneerson

I want to thank you also for your good will to send me an Esrog which you yourself plucked from the tree on your recent visit to Eretz Yisroel. However, you surely know that an Esrog must be one that is not murkov, that is to say, that grows on a tree which had not been crossed with another species, and we use Esrogim concerning which we have a tradition that they meet this requirement. So the first qualification of an Esrog is not so much where it comes from, but the certainty that it is not a murkov. Unfortunately, the place you mention is one of which I never heard that it should have that tradition, and even in Eretz Yisroel itself the Esrogim usually come from other places, but not the one you mention. Obviously, where this essential matter is in doubt, there is the question of making a blessing in vain, and above all, the doubt whether the Mitzvah of Esrog will be fulfilled. I trust that you, too, have ordered for yourself an Esrog which is definitely not murkov, and Anash surely know how and where to get such Esrogim.