Report of communal activities in Madrid; Imperative to add in practical education of mitvos, teffilah, and holidays
By the Grace of G-d
15th of Elul 5733
Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Jewish Community of Madrid
Balmes 5
Madrid - 10
Greeting and Blessings
I was very gratified to receive, through Mr. Abraham Yitzchak Gluck of London, the report and memoranda about your communal activities in general, and in the area of Chinuch-education in particular.
Judging by the information and data, I am confident that you will not rest content with the accomplishments in the past, but, indeed, that every achievement will stimulate an even greater desire for further and more ambitious achievements. For, as our Sages of blessed memory point out, "He who has one hundred, desires 200; and he who achieved 200, desires 400." If such is the case in material things and in personal affairs, how much more should it be in spiritual and eternal things pertaining to a whole community, especially one that resides in the Capital City. There is no need to elaborate on the obvious.
It may be presumptuous for one to express an opinion from a distance to those who are on the spot. May I, nevertheless, be permitted to make at least a general observation in regard to the curriculum, which is an important part of the memorandum.
It is apparent from the curriculum that the number of hours devoted to Chinuch is rather limited, yet it is also clear from the general memorandum that it is at the school that the children must receive their essential Chinuch, since, for various reasons, the home is not, as yet, a very strong factor in Chinuch, and the street is certainly not conducive to it. These circumstances place a special responsibility on the school, and make it imperative that the curriculum should be used to the fullest advantage and effectiveness.
Consequently, the maximum time and maximum emphasis should be dedicated to the practical aspects of Chinuch and the deepening of the Jewish faith, so that the children should grow up to be faithful and loyal Jews in the utmost possible degree.
In this connection it is well to bear in mind the general rule, especially in regard to children, that any idea or knowledge, if it is to be truly absorbed and be of lasting benefit, it must not remain in the realm of thought or pure knowledge, but must be immediately related to and connected with actual experience in some tangible expression in the active life.
In this way it can be expected that the knowledge plus experience which the child attains in school will be lasting and effective also outside the walls of the school. Indeed, the time spent by the child outside of the school is the greater part of his life, not only in quantity, but also in quality, since it includes Shabbat and Yom Tov and various occasions and celebrations at home, etc.
