By the Grace of G‑d
5730 [1970]
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting and Blessing!
...The Ten Commandments begin with the fundamental precepts of man's relation to G‑d, and conclude with precepts governing man's relation to man. This emphasizes that even the most elementary ethical and moral precepts have a validity and effectiveness only if they derive from the authority of "I am G‑d your G‑d" and "Thou shalt have no other gods.”
The history of mankind has continuously demonstrated that human life can make no real progress where the imperatives of morality and ethics are not based on the authority of the Supreme Being, but are human inventions that can be changed and modified to suit the proclivities of the age. The state of the generation of the present day is the best proof of that.
In Jewish life, in particular, there can be no separation between morality and ethics on the one hand, and our belief in One G‑d on the other. Unity is the very core of both our belief and our daily conduct, where the material and spiritual aspects of life must be brought into full harmony, with the spiritual aspect being the predominating and determining factor.
There can be no difference of opinion as to the necessity to bring up a child in the proper relationship towards others, with respect for parents and elders, and so forth, from his earliest age. On the same basis, it is equally imperative to bring up a Jewish child in the spirit of Torah and Mitzvoth from his earliest age. Only this kind of upbringing and education can be called a complete and unified Chinuch, a true Torah-Chinuch. This is what the wisest of all men meant when he said, "Train the child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it when he grows old" (Prov. 22:6).
(Excerpt from a letter)
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