By the Grace of G‑d
4th of Adar, 5723 [Feb. 28. 1963]
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mr. Chayim Yaakov [Jacques] Lipschitz
168 Warburton Ave.
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Sholom uBrocho:

After not having heard from you for some time, your letter of February 22 was particularly welcome, following the regards which I had previously received through Mrs. Weill.

I am very pleased to note that you have resumed your work, and are working with inspiration.

In connection with your forthcoming exposition, I wish you unqualified success, and for many, many good and happy years to come may G‑d grant you to use your gifts to the credit of our Jewish people, and of our Jewish values in particular. For there are many ways in which a Jew can serve G‑d, and one must serve Him in all, in accordance with the principle “Know Him, and make Him known, in all your ways.” You have a unique privilege of doing so through your own medium, which to certain circles is the only medium of learning something about Jews and Judaism.

A propos of the above, I trust you will not take it amiss, though it may sound somewhat chauvinistic, but it is nevertheless true, that Jews, as Jews, can be justly proud. For although we declare, and pray for, three times a day - in the famous hymn “Oleinu l’shabe’ach”: “To establish the world under the kingdom of the Almighty, and all mankind shall invoke Thy Name,” this is preceded by “It is our duty to praise the Lord of all things... Who hath not made us like the nations of other lands,” etc. Any doubt that one might have had about the inherent distinction between our people and other nations, in this 20th century of enlightenment, science and philosophy, has tragically been dispelled by our experience at the hands of a nation which claimed first place in the arts and sciences in our generation, while the other “advanced” nations hardly did anything to avert or stop the mass slaughter. This is too painful to contemplate.

I will conclude on a happy note, having entered the joyous month of Adar, highlighted by the festival of Purim, may you, we all in the midst of all our people enjoy - to quote the Megillah - “light and gladness, joy and honor.”

With blessing,

M. Schneerson

Your check was turned over to the special Purim fund, for “gifts to the poor” in the spirit of the Megillah.