By the Grace of G‑d
17th of Teveth, 5722
Brooklyn, N.Y.
[December 24, 1961]

Sholom uBrocho:

I received your letter of Dec. 14th, as well as the cable. In the meantime you have surely received my letter in reply to yours of an earlier date.

With reference to the planned chartered trip, I see from your letter that you cannot dictate your terms to the airlines, for they have their own limitations. However, it would be well if the trip can be so arranged as to take in two Farbrengen in close proximity, such as Shabbos-Mevorchim Sivan and Shovuos, or Shabbos-Mevorchim Tammuz with Yud-Beis Tammuz. However, judging by your letter, I do not think the decision is yours. Therefore, the best thing would be to poll the opinion of the prospective participants and go by the majority within the limited choice available.

With regard to your personal affairs, I do not think it wise to substitute your business with income-bearing property, for you should be in a more active business than just rent-collecting. On the other hand, It would be advisable as a side-line, or dividing your investments between your business and income-property.

To conclude with a word of the Old Rebbe on the week's Sidrah – “And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt”: A Jew can retain his attachment to G‑d and live even in the “Land of Egypt”, despite all limitations (“metzorim”), by overcoming them, and converting the darkest places ערות הארץ1 into light and life, materially and spiritually. May your good works for the strengthening of Yiddishkeit and of the cause of Lubavitch in particular stand you and yours in good stead toward attaining the good and happy life, materially and spiritually.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson