Your True Title

Reb Moshe Yitzchok Hecht, the dedicated Shliach to New Haven, received an Honorary degree, awarding him the title Doctor.

A while later, the Rebbe received a letter with Reb Moshe Yitzchok being referred to as “Doctor Hecht.” Immediately, the Rebbe sent him a letter expressing dissatisfaction.

Reb Moshe Yitzchok sat down to write a letter to Rebbe, asking him to clarify whether the Rebbe disapproves of the new title. “If so,” he committed, “I will, of course, cease to use it.”

“There are places situations when the title ‘Doctor’ can be useful,” the Rebbe clarified in a response, allowing him to make use of it for hafotzas hayahdus.

“I was expressing surprise that your true title, Rav, was missing.” (Hiskashrus Issue 799)