6668 —שאלות מעשיות בהצעת קרקע לבתי ספר למלאכה ברעננה

B"H, 29th of Teves, 5719
Brooklyn.

The long-standing Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, whose work is the work of Heaven, etc.^[1], Reb Aleksandr Zusya, may he live long^[2]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of the 21st of Teves, regarding the good will of Mr. Mordechai, may he live long, concerning his land; enclosed herewith is my letter to him^[3].

Now, as to the matter itself, there are understandably several difficulties. For although, as you write, he is prepared to hand over part of the land for establishing institutions while he is still alive – may it be for long days and years^[4] – it is not clear what this part is suitable for: whether only for putting up a building for a vocational school^[5], or also housing, as you write. After all, several types of vocational schools require additional areas, either for a trade or for suitable work, etc., so that the school can function in keeping with its purpose. Ra'anana, too, requires consideration: the good of the matter surely requires that those working in the school live really close by, and if the school's salary does not suffice for all their livelihood needs, they will surely need the help of a side income – is there an outlet for this in Ra'anana^[6]? Likewise, are the transportation and the surroundings convenient and suitable, etc.?

Many thanks in advance if you will answer me about all this^[7], both the advantages of the matter and its drawbacks. For an understandable reason, I did not want to include these questions in my letter to him^[8].

It is surprising that you do not acknowledge receipt of my letter, which was relatively detailed, from several months ago^[9], which surely arrived in its time. Nor do you mention anything regarding the health of your wife, may she live long^[10]. I hope it has improved, and her spirits as well, which are included in this and are the main thing.

I likewise hope that you took part in the farbrengen of the auspicious day of 19 Kislev, the Rosh Hashanah of the teachings of Chassidus and of the ways of Chassidus^[11].

With blessings for good news^[12] in all the above,

M. Schneerson

Publisher's notes

Reb Aleksandr Zusya (מו"ה אלכסנדר זוסיא): Bunin, Ra'anana. Further letters to him: above, vol. 17, letter 6490, and the references in the notes there; below, 6693.

Notes

1. The long-standing Chassid… whose work is the work of Heaven, etc. (הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ מלאכתו מלאכת שמים כו'): הוו"ח = הוותיק וחסיד, "the long-standing Chassid"; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים, "a G‑d-fearing man"; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד, "distinguished and honored". "Whose work is the work of Heaven" is from the words of R. Yishmael to R. Meir, who was a scribe (writing Torah scrolls), Eruvin 13a: בני, הוי זהיר במלאכתך, שמלאכתך מלאכת שמים היא, "My son, be careful in your work, for your work is the work of Heaven." Here it is said of the recipient's work in educating Jewish children.

2. Reb Aleksandr Zusya (מו"ה אלכסנדר זוסיא שי'): R. Aleksandr Zusya (in other letters: Zisel, Ziskind) Bunin of Ra'anana, also called "Ben Nun" (see the previous letter), a Chabad Chassid and educator, a former student of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim (see letter 4468), who together with his wife, Mrs. Tziporah, founded and ran the children's and youth home "Beitenu" in Ra'anana, where both boys and girls were educated (see letter 5355: "in the institution under your direction… in the institution both boys and girls are educated"). In his letter of 21 Teves he wrote to the Rebbe of the wish of Mordechai Epstein of Ra'anana to give land of his to Chabad for vocational schools and housing; the Rebbe answered the donor in letter 6667, which he enclosed with this one, and answered the recipient in this letter, on the practical questions involved. Further letters to him: 4468 (20 Sivan 5716), 5355 (10 Nissan 5717), 6490 (22 Elul 5718), 6693 (20 Shevat 5719), 8187 (26 Nissan 5719 – on the offer of "Mr. Mordechai Epstein" to give Chabad a plot of his land for an educational institution where a trade would also be taught), 8327, 8515.

3. Enclosed herewith is my letter to him (מוסג"פ מכתבי להנ"ל): מוסג"פ = מוסגר פה, "enclosed herewith". The letter is 6667, of the same day, to Mordechai Epstein.

4. While he is still alive – may it be for long days and years (בעודנו בחיים - לאריכות ימים ושנים): The donor is prepared to give part of the land already now, in his lifetime, as the Rebbe wrote in the previous letter: "in light of section 3 of the letter mentioned, that you are prepared to hand over part of the land for establishing the institutions now". Having written "while he is still alive", the Rebbe at once adds a blessing: "may it be for long days and years".

5. A vocational school (ביסל"מ): ביסל"מ = בית ספר למלאכה, a vocational school; below, ביה"ס = בית הספר, "the school". See the previous letter, note 6.

6. Is there an outlet for this in Ra'anana (האם יש לזה מוצא ברעננה): The teachers and staff of the school need to live near it; and if their pay does not suffice, they will need an additional source of income alongside it (סניף פרנסה) – the question is whether they will find one in Ra'anana.

7. All this (כ"ז): כ"ז = כל זה.

8. For an understandable reason (מטעם המובן): The Rebbe does not spell out the reason. In fact, in his letter to the donor himself (the previous letter) he thanked and blessed him for his good will and asked only in general terms for "further details regarding the area in question and the suitability of the surroundings"; the difficulties and drawbacks he set out only to R. Bunin.

9. My letter, which was relatively detailed, from several months ago (מכתבי המפורט לפי ערך - מלפני כמה חדשים): This is letter 6490 (22 Elul 5718), a long letter in which the Rebbe answered his letter about his doubts as to the value of his work in education ("any thought that casts doubt on the value of this work… does not come from the right side"), and concluded: "The upshot of the above: increase in activities like those you have done until now".

10. Your wife, may she live long (זוגתו תי'): תי' = תחי'. She is Mrs. Tziporah Bunin, who had written to the Rebbe that "the medical treatment was set for the auspicious day, Zos Chanukah"; the Rebbe answered her with a blessing for success in letter 6605 (18 Kislev 5719). See also letter 7034 to her (3 Tishrei 5720), on the operation before her.

11. The Rosh Hashanah of the teachings of Chassidus (ראש השנה לתורת החסידות): From the letter of the Rebbe Rashab cited in Hayom Yom, 19 Kislev: "19 Kislev… the festival on which He redeemed our souls in peace, and the light and vitality of our souls was given to us; this day is the Rosh Hashanah of the teachings of Chassidus".

12. Good news (בשו"ט): בשו"ט = בשורות טובות.

Summary

In a covering letter to R. Aleksandr Zusya Bunin of Ra'anana, sent with his reply to the donor, the Rebbe sets out the practical questions raised by the offer of land for Chabad vocational schools: what the part offered now is suited for, whether there is room for the additional areas such schools need, whether staff can live nearby and find extra income in Ra'anana, and the transportation and surroundings. He asks to hear both the advantages and the drawbacks, notes that his earlier detailed letter went unacknowledged, and asks after Mrs. Bunin's health and the recipient's 19 Kislev farbrengen.