Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7902 — Grief & Loss

By the grace of Hashem,

15 Shevat* 5712 (note 1: 1952),

I bless you and greet you (note 2: This letter is addressed to a woman),

I duly received your request for blessing, through the intermediary of the Rav, distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, Rav Yaakov Yehudah Hecht (note 3: See, regarding him, letter no. 7834). He also transmits to me what you told him about your past, your desire to have a Sefer Torah* written in your name and to send it to Eretz Yisrael*. You ask me what I think about it. It is surely unnecessary to emphasize for you the holiness and greatness of a Sefer Torah*, but one can find what is even more holy. This is the case, for example, of Jews who study the Torah*, precisely in Eretz Yisrael*, at the present time. Thousands of Jewish children have arrived there, who feel the need for an education in the Torah* and the Mitzvos*. They must know what Judaism is, the observance of Shabbos*, Kashrus*, before the number of existing Yeshivos* and Orthodox Jews is too small to absorb all these children who are arriving. Every day, letters reach me from there, on this matter, that rend the heart. Now, with a relatively small sum, one could have saved thousands of Jewish children, so that they not be cut off from the Jewish people, which may Hashem prevent, and remain always faithful to the Torah*.

The same is also true in North Africa, where my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit protects us, requested, shortly before his passing, that schools and Yeshivos* be founded, so that the local Jewish children study the Torah* and the fear of Hashem. Financial means must be invested to achieve such a result. My advice is therefore the following. At the present time, there is no shortage of Sifrei Torah* in Eretz Yisrael*, since they have been brought from European countries. On the other hand, there is not enough money to pay the teachers, to buy Siddurim*, Chumashim* and other books, both in Eretz Yisrael* and in North Africa. In this instance, you had the good idea of having a Sefer Torah* written, but you have not yet made the definitive decision and you ask me what I think. In my opinion, inquire how much a Sefer Torah* costs and devote that sum, with an additional dollar, to the creation of a school or a Talmud Torah* in Eretz Yisrael* or in North Africa. Likewise, you will send them Siddurim*, on which will be printed that those who use them must pray for the donors, namely you and your husband, and ask for their well-being.

It is difficult to express in writing, especially within the epistolary framework, the great merit that you will acquire by acting in this way. In any case, I hope that what I have written will enable you to measure its importance. May Hashem help you to completely transform your past. Henceforth, you will have a good Jewish life, based on the Torah* and the Mitzvos*. With my blessing,