Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9425

By the grace of Hashem,

3 Tevet* 5728,
Brooklyn, New York,

For the attention of Mr. Elie Wiesel[1],

I greet and bless you,

After a long interruption, I was glad to receive your letter, which reached me with a delay. I am surprised to see that you say nothing in it concerning yourself. Indeed, I was particularly pleased to receive your letter, as I had long been seeking an opportunity to ask you a question without this approach being interpreted as an intrusion on my part — even an important intrusion — into your private life. I was, in fact, concerned to note that you do not speak of marriage. From what I had gathered from your letter, this was supposed to have been concluded some time ago, but since then, "one hears nothing and no one answers"[2].

To return to what was the subject of our conversation, of which I hope you remember at least the essential points, my position was that in our era, the sou...

...And, this underscores even more clearly the necessity of organizing your family life. Indeed, a writer also bears the pressure of his personal existence, as an individual and not only in what is connected to his writing. As I said above, I had been looking for an opportunity to write to you on this subject, while excusing myself for my intrusion into your private life. I take responsibility for it, nonetheless, provided that what is said above has the desired consequences, and the sooner the better. I thought we would see each other at a Chassidic* gathering. I could then have told you personally, at least briefly, what is set out above. However, I did not see you, either because you were not there, or because you were "hidden behind the instruments"[6].

Consequently, I was particularly pleased to receive your mail, which afforded me...

...on the occasion of the various prizes and distinctions you have received since your last letter, as I saw in the press. I hope that, although this distinguishes[9] you from others, since it is a personal distinction[9], you will not separate yourself from other Jews. On the contrary, according to the wording of the verse[10]: "he saw their sufferings." You will therefore do so even more than before, since this distinction gives you the ability to increase the help you provide them.

Hanukkah* has already passed, but may Hashem ensure that the spirit of the festival is preserved — the need to add light each day[12] throughout the year — so as to drive away the darkness of the world, "from sunset"[13], doing so: "at the door of his house, toward the outside"[14], with Jewish pride and determination, until that outside also becomes luminous.

With my respects and my blessing to bring me good news of all that is said above,

P.S.: I read in your letter with great surprise that the meeting with Mrs. G. M.[15] could not take place, although you had initially contributed to making it happen. My surprise is all the greater because a man of the press must know what an ordinary person does not, namely the fact that those who should have been the organizers of this meeting were not satisfied with it and, in the end, did as they pleased, so that the meeting did not take place — which is neither my doing, nor that of Mrs. G. M., nor due to my own associates.

It is surprising that you do not know this, because in practically the same period, the same "organizers" arranged my meetings with two other personalities, and their "organization" was sufficiently effective to cancel those as well. I do not wish to say more, as this is painful, and of course I regret that this meeting could not take place, because, in addition to all other aspects, I would have found interest in meeting Mrs. G. M. from a purely human and psychological point of view — for what an active person in political life for decades, with all the capacities that entails, can teach, while still being the grandmother of very young grandchildren, with all the tenderness and warmth that implies.

Notes

[1] Concerning him, see letter no. 8969.
[2] According to the wording of the verses Melachim I* 18, 26 and 29.
[3] Concerning this, see letter no. 7491.
[4] In tractate Avot*, chapter 1, at Mishna...
[5] ...
[6] ...
[9] The Rebbe underlines the word "distinguishes" and "distinction".
[10] ...
[12] ...
[13] ...
[14] ...
[15] Mrs. G. M. (Golda Meir).