6593 —"אם לא עכשיו אימתי": שלא לעזוב את הישיבה בגיל עשרים, ולימוד מקצוע בשעות ספורות עד החתונה

B"H, 9th of Kislev, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In answer to your letter of 11/16.

With great surprise I read in it that you are no longer learning in yeshivah, though you are only 20 years old. It has, after all, been explained in the holy books how important the study of Torah is throughout a person's whole lifetime — and how much more so in the years when one does not yet have the yoke of supporting a family; and as the well-known saying of the Mishnah goes, "If not now, when?"^[1] As for the question of a career, there is still enough time, for in the end livelihood depends on G‑d^[2], Who alone "feeds the whole world in His goodness, with grace, with kindness and with mercy"^[3], and He, blessed be He, has instructed that one study Torah and fulfill mitzvos. And even when the time comes and one must find occupation, it is enough, until the wedding, to spend a couple of hours learning the trade, and the rest of the time one can even learn in yeshivah.

What you write about learning electronics at home is not understandable, for such learning involves various machines and instruments that can only be used in a school; but perhaps the expression "electronics" is not the right one.

At an auspicious time you will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe^[4], of saintly and blessed memory, whose soul is in the hidden treasuries on High, may his merit protect us^[5], and also your mother, may she live, for what she needs. It is understood that every addition in matters of Torah and mitzvos by each of the family members, and especially by you, who bring the request, will add to G‑d's blessings in what is needed.

It would be fitting that you keep the takanah^[6] of saying every day after the morning prayer the monthly portion of Tehillim — as the Tehillim is divided for the days of the month — and every weekday before praying, to give a few cents to tzedakah; and that your mother, may she live, keep the good custom of the daughters of Israel to give tzedakah each time before lighting the candles on Erev Shabbos and Erev Yom Tov^[7].

With blessing for good tidings in all the above,

In the name of the Rebbe shlita,

Secretary

Notes

1. "If not now, when?" (אם לא עכשיו אימתי): Avos 1:14: "He used to say: If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"

2. Livelihood depends on G‑d (ווענדעט זיך די פרנסה אן השם יתברך): See Kiddushin 82a: "A person should always teach his son a clean and easy trade, and pray to the One to Whom wealth and possessions belong, for there is no trade without poverty and wealth... but all is according to his merit."

3. "Feeds the whole world in His goodness" (הזן את העולם כולו בטובו): The wording of the blessing "HaZan" in Grace after Meals: "Who feeds the whole world in His goodness, with grace, with kindness and with mercy."

4. My father-in-law, the Rebbe (כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר): כבוד קדושת מורי וחמי אדוננו מורנו ורבנו.

5. Of saintly and blessed memory... may his merit protect us (זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע): זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה לחיי העולם הבא, נשמתו בגנזי מרומים, זכותו יגן עלינו.

6. The takanah (די תקנה): The takanah of the Previous Rebbe, to say every day after Shacharis the portion of Tehillim as divided for the days of the month.

7. To give tzedakah before lighting the candles (צו געבען אויף צדקה... פאר ליכט צינדען): The good custom of the women and daughters of Israel to set aside tzedakah before lighting the Shabbos and Yom Tov candles.

Summary

The Rebbe's secretary writes in Yiddish to a twenty-year-old who has left yeshivah: Torah study matters all one's life, and most of all before one carries a family's livelihood — "if not now, when?" Livelihood ultimately comes from G‑d, and until the wedding a few hours a day learning a trade are enough, with the rest of the time in yeshivah. Learning electronics at home makes little sense without a school's equipment. He and his mother will be mentioned at the Previous Rebbe's resting place; he should say the daily Tehillim and give tzedakah before praying, and his mother should give tzedakah before candle-lighting.