By the Grace of G‑d
27th of Marcheshvan, 5726
[November 22, 1965]
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Jewish Institute for Brides & Grooms
Montreal, P.Q., Canada
Greeting and Blessing:
Your letter reached me with some delay. Thank you very much also for the enclosures dealing with your activities and programs.
I hope that you are making efforts not only to maintain your activities in high gear, but also to extend them from time to time. For, needless to say, a marriage in Jewish life is an institution which is called Binyan Adei Ad—an “everlasting edifice.” And in order that it should be so, it is necessary that everything connected with a marriage of a bride and groom should be in full compliance with the instructions of our Torah, which is called Toras Chaim, because it is not only the source of everlasting life in the Hereafter, but also the true guide in life on this earth. The analogy of a marriage to an “everlasting edifice” is not merely a figure of speech, but there is an important idea and instruction in it. It is that just as in the case of any structure, the first and most important thing is to ensure the quality and durability of the foundation, lacking which all the efforts put into the walls and roof and decorations, etc., would be of no avail, and so it is in regard to a Jewish marriage which, first of all, must be based on the foundation of the Torah and Mitzvoth; then follows the blessing of the joy and rejoicing of the beloved couple for the rest of their life.
In view of the above, it is also clear that there is a standing obligation upon everyone to help a bride and groom to establish such an everlasting edifice, and it would be totally unjustified to think that it is a matter of their own personal life, in which no one has a right to interfere. Surely when one sees someone bent on harming herself or himself and their children, or about to do something which might lead to self-destruction, G‑d forbid, one will not consider it “interference” or “encroachment” to try to prevent that person from harming himself. Similarly, when there is an opportunity to help someone with a lasting benefit, surely it is an elementary duty so to do, how much more so where the benefit is a truly everlasting one.
I send you my prayerful wishes to continue your good work in helping young couples to establish truly Jewish homes, homes that are illuminated with the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth, above all with the observance of the laws and regulations of Taharas Hamishpocho. May you do so with deep inspiration and with ever-growing Hatzlocho.
With blessing
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