This letter was sent to R. Moshe Prager, who was actively involved in outreach to individuals who had suffered in the Holocaust.

B”H, 19 Sivan, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

My friend Dr. Yaakov Gripel informed me of the contents of your first letter that reached him.

You share good tidings in your letter — that you see signs of blessing in your efforts to have a positive influence on those who can acquire for themselves — and for others — a portion of the World [to Come] in one moment.1

Although you have strong hopes to see the fruits of your efforts in the future, you certainly remember the gist of our conversation when you visited here and I emphasized that ultimately, what is of fundamental importance is actual deed and action. It is necessary to make a just reckoning of what is happening with regard to actual deed.2

You write nothing about all of the above, and in particular, nothing about the present situation regarding Judaism and [Jewish] education in the immigrant camps.3

I will rely on your words during our conversation and I will repeat the request I made then, that despite your involvements and activities, you should endeavor to become familiar with the details concerning these matters and notify me of the situation [as it is], without embellishment, even embellishment stemming from the love of the Jewish people. For to come to a decision regarding the questions associated with the situations of the [immigrant] camps mentioned above, any clear and detailed knowledge is important for me.

I heard that the author of Chiddushei HaRim4 once told his chassidim: “If I do not motivate you [to advance] in Yiddishkeit at all, it will be a tremendous rachmanus (“pitiful situation”) for me, as alluded to in the verse:5 ‘And Moshe suffered adversity because of them.’”

In microcosm, this concept applies to everyone who can serve as a source of influence — either directly or indirectly — on any other Jew, to strengthen him in Yiddishkeit or to moti­vate him to an activity that strengthens Yiddishkeit. The person who conveys this influence must clearly know that his success is his own joy and mission. Therefore he will apply himself as much as is necessary, and [then] in the words of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ: “One can rest assured that effort is never without results.”

With blessings and with the hope of hearing good news,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson