6691 —ריכוז כל הכוחות בחינוך במקומו בתענך, ולא ברישום לשיכון בכפר חב"ד

B"H, 18 Shevat, 5719
Brooklyn.

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

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of 12 Shevat, in which you write how you have settled in Taanach^[3], and ask about registering for the housing development that is to be built in Kfar Chabad^[4].

For the time being you need not concern yourself with this, but concentrate all your attention on your work, the holy work of education in holiness and purity in the Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch schools in the Holy Land, may it be built and established^[5], and in your present place. Especially since, as you write, most of them are from your own community^[6], and our holy Torah has ruled: "the poor of your own city come first"^[7]. And the reward of all who engage in this is explained in several places^[8], and it includes success in personal matters too…

And the merit of your work in the Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch school^[9], as above – in which you will surely also increase – will stand you in good stead for the fulfillment of your heart's desires for good and for blessing.

With blessing for good news^[10].

M. Schneersohn

Publisher's notes

Printed: in Likkutei Sichos vol. 22, p. 367, and completed from a photocopy of the letter.

Reb Yitzchak (מו"ה יצחק שי'): Yadgar.

Notes

1. The veteran Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, whose work is the work of Heaven (הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ מלאכתו מלאכת שמים): הוו"ח = הוותיק וחסיד; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד. "Whose work is the work of Heaven" follows R. Yishmael's words to R. Meir, who was a scribe (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 as a teacher.

2. Reb Yitzchak (מו"ה יצחק): Yadgar. R. Yitzchak Yadgar, an educator, born 22 Tishrei 5698; he drew close to Chabad through R. Shmuel Elazar Heilprin and studied at the Tomchei Temimim yeshivah in Lod in 5713–5717. Already in 5715, as a young married man, he taught a class on behalf of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad in Tel Aviv, and the Rebbe wrote to its directors (letter 3699): "I took great pleasure in what you write about the class with which the avrech Yitzchak Yadgar studies". After his marriage to Mrs. Simcha he moved to moshav Avital in the Taanach region and, together with his wife, joined the staff of the Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak school there, founded in 5718; he later directed it for 27 years, until 5764. He passed away on 1 Menachem Av 5783. Further letters to him: 7578 (27 Shevat 5721); and in letter 9366 (18 Elul 5727) the Rebbe wrote to the police in Afula about his visit to them in the tefillin campaign.

3. Taanach (תענך): The Taanach region in the Jezreel Valley, near Afula, where many members of the Kurdish community had settled. The recipient wrote how they had settled there.

4. The housing development that is to be built in Kfar Chabad (שכון שיבנה בכפר חב"ד): The new housing development planned for Kfar Chabad. The Rebbe had urged it on the village committee since 5717 (letter 5688, 28 Menachem Av 5717): "for building this housing development is essential for the growth of the village… and as soon as they begin building they should announce it, adding that all who are interested must register for the apartments being built"; and in letter 6028 (1 Shevat 5718) he clarified: "my intention was that this is an expansion of Kfar Chabad in its own character… and so, for those settling in the development, farmers have priority". The recipient asked whether to register for an apartment there.

5. The Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch schools in the Holy Land, may it be built and established (בתי ספר אהלי יוסף יצחק ליובאוויטש אשר באה"ק ת"ו): The network of Chabad schools in the Holy Land named after the Previous Rebbe. באה"ק ת"ו = בארץ הקודש תבנה ותכונן.

6. Most of them are from your own community (רובם הם מבני עדתו): That is, most of the pupils of the Taanach school belong to the recipient's own community.

7. "The poor of your own city come first" (עניי עירך קודמין): תוה"ק = תורתנו הקדושה. Bava Metzia 71a: דתני רב יוסף, "אם כסף תלוה את עמי את העני עמך"... ענייך ועניי עירך – ענייך קודמין, עניי עירך ועניי עיר אחרת – עניי עירך קודמין, "Rav Yosef taught: 'If you lend money to My people, to the poor man with you' (Shemos 22:24)… your own poor and the poor of your city – your own poor come first; the poor of your city and the poor of another city – the poor of your city come first." As in charity, so in education: the children of his own community come first for him, so his place now is in Taanach, not in Kfar Chabad.

8. In several places (בכ"מ): בכ"מ = בכמה מקומות.

9. School (בי"ס): בי"ס = בית ספר.

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

Summary

The Rebbe tells a young teacher who had settled in Taanach, and asked about registering for the new housing in Kfar Chabad, to set the matter aside for now and give all his attention to teaching in the Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak school where he is, since most of the pupils are from his own community, and the poor of one's own city come first; that merit will bring him success in his personal affairs too.