Igrot Kodesh · Letter 280 — Merkaz L'Inyanei Chinuch Financial Crisis and Lifnim Mishurat Hadin

By the grace of Hashem, 12 Menachem Av* 5707, To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, who faithfully fulfills his task, Rav Y. HaCohen[1], I greet and bless you,
You no doubt know that I traveled to Europe for several months and have returned from there with my mother, may Hashem grant her long life.
Upon my return, I found on my desk the account of the words spoken by my father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita*, during Tishri* 5707, which you returned to me, and I thank you greatly for it[2].
I would have wished to conclude this letter there, but the situation of the Merkaz L'Inyanei Chinuch* leads me to add the following few lines.
The financial situation of this institution is particularly worrying. Moreover, despite our difficulties, we must also contend with the expansion of our activities in Europe, in the domains of education and publishing.
It is for this reason that the Merkaz L'Inyanei Chinuch* must once again turn to all its friends, to ask them to fulfill as soon as possible their past commitments and donations, to make new ones for the future to the full extent of their possibilities and even beyond them.
I consider you one of the closest friends of our institution, and it is therefore to you that I turn. I am certain that you will respond positively to this appeal and will act immediately. You will moreover exercise your influence on all those you know, so that they do likewise.
I know that you have various justifications for delaying your commitment. I will therefore conclude with an explanation of our Sages on the period that has just passed.
The tractate Bava Metzia* 30b explains that 'Jerusalem was destroyed because people held strictly to the letter of the Torah law.' One must therefore go beyond this law, even when one does not feel the need to do so. It is thus that one can hasten the redemption and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
I hope to hear good news from you.
With my blessing of immediate Teshuvah*, immediate redemption, Rav Menachem Schneerson,
By separate parcel, I have sent you the most recent publication of Otzar HaChasidim*[3], the biography*[4].