Every Jew contains that holy spark, the eternal, unbreakable bond with the Divine and the commandments. This spark ignites all thoughts and deeds, from above to below, and far beyond the synagogue or Sabbath table. So how to be a “lamplighter”? The Avner Institute presents a series of inspirational letters to a professor showcasing the Rebbe’s focus on all matters of life – intellectual, spiritual, medical, and educational.
In loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
“To light up the Divine Soul”
By the Grace of G-d
23rd of Sivan 5732
Brooklyn, NY
Prof. Abraham S. & E. H. Luchins
53 Fordham Court
Albany, NY 12209
Greeting and Blessing:
This is to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your two volumes of with emphasis on action Wertheimer’s Seminars Revisited: Social Influences and Power, 1971, and Problems in Social Psychology II, 1972. I appreciate indeed your thoughtfulness in sending me these important volumes.
This also gives me the opportunity to express again the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Luchins at the Convention of Neshei Chabad. For, after having met you and the children, it was only natural that I should be interested to meet also the akeres habayis [homemaker].
Inasmuch as we have just read the sedra [Torah portion] of B’haalos’cho, may G-d grant that for many years to come you will continue to spread the light of the Torah and mitzvoth in your immediate as well as wider environment, as symbolized by the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdosh of old. For, although the mitzvah pertains to a specific time and place, and was the function of the Kohanim, it is in its inner and essential aspect eternal in making it the duty of every Jew, man and woman, to light up the Divine Soul within themselves and in other Jews, and to do so in a manner of B’haalos’cho, [you shall light up] namely that the flame would continue to rise up of its own accord. Moreover, since we received the Torah at Sinai, all of the Jewish people have been raised to the status of a “Kingdom of Kohanim and a Holy Nation.”
If every Jew is to be a “Lamplighter” to light up the soul which is the “Lamp of G-d” with the “ner-mitzvah v’Torah Or,” [candle of a mitzvah and the light of the Torah] this is particularly incumbent upon those who have a prominent position and a wide sphere of influence, especially with the young generation, and whose personal life therefore serves as an example of others to emulate.
With all good wishes for continued hatzlocha [success], and for good tidings, materially and spiritually.
With blessing,
[signature]
“Best interests of the student”
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5732
Brooklyn, NY
Dr. & Mrs. Avrohom Shmuel & Yehudis Luchins
53 Fordham Court
Albany, NY 12209
Greeting and Blessing:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letters of the 7th and 8th of June, in which you write about the question as to where your son Yosef should continue his studies for the next school term.
Needless to say, the suggestion that he should study in a yeshiva is the right one. It has always been the desire of Jewish parents to give their children the maximum Torah education. Certainly, in our day and age this is an urgent need, all the more so since your son himself has expressed his desire and request that he be sent to a yeshiva.
I can well understand, of course, your feelings at seeing all your children learning away from your home. Yet, to consider the other alternative, namely postponing his going to yeshiva for a year—I do not think it is necessary to impress upon you, who have had a great deal of experience with youth, that the alternative would entail the unknown and unforeseeable elements.
As you well know, children and teenagers in their formative years are very prone to be influenced by the atmosphere of the school which they attend and the students with whom they associate. And since such association involves many individuals, it is impossible to know what contacts a boy can make today or tomorrow. Nor does a contact necessarily produce an immediate effect, for the actual effects may not come to the surface for weeks or months, especially when it is a daily contact, though sometimes a single encounter may have an impact.
Even in the present case where the postponement would mean attending the same class for another year, one should still consider the fact that there are usually newcomers every year, and even the previous students might have undergone changes as they grow older, and it is impossible to know in what direction the former schoolmates have changed.
Sooner the Better
I do not wish to arouse any undue anxiety, G-d forbid, and will therefore not say any more on the subject. I will only emphasize again, in summary, that insofar as the chinuch [education] of children is concerned, the sooner they are brought into a school of a better Torah education, the better it is, for the time element is highly important.
As far the personal sacrifice involved in fulfilling the time-honored adage ve’yechi gola l’mikvah Torah [may he be immersed in the well of Torah], may G-d grant that you should find it easier to accept, and easy to bear, knowing that since the Torah itself has recommended it, it is surely in the best interests of the student and, therefore, also of the parents, since parents desire the greatest happiness for their children. Consider further that the principle of wandering out to a place of Torah was practiced even in the time of the Mishna, when Jewish children and adolescents were not exposed to adverse influences locally, and it was only a question of acquiring more knowledge of the Torah, which, unfortunately, is not the case in the present instance.
To conclude on an especially happy note, I extend herewith the blessing of mazel tov, mazel tov, to you and all the family on the occasion of the forthcoming marriage of your son Yirmiyahu Yeshayahu. May G-d grant that you should have much true nachas [joy], which is Yiddishe Torah nachas from him and his chosen partner in life, as from all your children.
With the blessing of
Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov,
[signature]
“To guard one’s health and body”
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Shevat 5735
Brooklyn, NY
Mr. Yosef Luchins
53 Fordham Ct.
Albany, NY 11209
Greeting and Blessings:
I was sorry to hear that you have not been in the best of health. I trust that you are carrying out the instructions of your doctor, especially as this is also a basic teaching of our Torah, as it is written, verofeh yrafeh [and He shall heal].
No doubt you also heard the saying of our Sages that the physical body of a person is nichsav shel hakodesh Baruch Hu [Divine property], which was given to the person I trust to take care of. Thus, it is obvious with what care a person has, to guard one’s health and body, which is G-d’s property.
This gives me the opportunity to mention that you no doubt do all you can to spread true Yiddishkeit, without compromise, to the fullest extent of your influence, both by chai damim halev [you shall live by it] as well as, and especially by a shining example. Knowing of your family background, and having had the pleasure of meeting your parents, it is surely unnecessary to elaborate on the above at greater length.
With prayerful wishes for good health and hoping to hear good news from you in all above.
With blessing,
[signature]
“With emphasis on action”
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5738
Brooklyn, NY
Mr. Yosef Michoel Luchins
c/o Yeshiva Bais Moshe
Box 1141
Scranton, PA 18505
Greeting and Blessing:
Your letter reached me with considerable delay.
I do not recall having received a letter from you dated in the month of Nissan. At any rate, if you still have some questions which have been unanswered, perhaps you can send me a copy of that letter or repeat your questions.
I will remember you in prayer for the fulfillment of your heart’s desires for good in the matters about which you write in this letter. Especially that you shall have hatzlocho in your Torah studies, with emphasis on action, namely the fulfillment of the mitzvoth with hiddur [enhancement]. I am glad to note that you have made progress in your Torah studies, and thus you have the additional advantage of the assurance that one mitzvah leads to another, for an increased measure of Divine hatzlocho. May G-d grant similar hatzlocho also to your friend whom you mention in your letter.
Now that we are coming from the month the Tishrei, the seventh month, which is also sated [shevii-sova] with all good, opening the way for abundant G-d’s blessings throughout the year. May this be so in your case materially and spiritually.
I would like to take this opportunity of conveying through you kindest regards and best wishes to your parents for a good and sweet year, with much true nachas, Yiddishe Torah nachas, from all their children and offspring, in good health and with joy and gladness of heart.
With blessing,
[signature]
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