Gravity and national nature of the issue; Good intentions do not mitigate catastrophic outcomes and perceptions
By the Grace of G-d
In the Days of Slichos, 5721. Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Chaim Jacob Lipchitz
168 Warbarton Ave.
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.
Greeting and Blessing:
With the approach of Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the New Year, may it bring blessings to us all, I send you and all yours my prayerful wishes for a good and happy year, materially and spiritually.
With the traditional blessing of הביתכ המיתחו הבוט
Cordially,
M. Schneerson
Thank you for your letter and good wishes for the New Year, and receipt is enclosed for your kind donation, which will surely stand you and yours in good stead.
I was very sorry to hear that you contemplate (?) to donate your sculptures for exhibition in a museum in Jerusalem, the Holy City, as I have had occasion to write to you in the past. However, on the basis of our friendship—and a true friendship calls for frankness and sincerity—I trust you will not take it amiss that I return to the subject. For you know the attitude of the Torah toward any kind of sculptured or graven images, and with what tragedy our people viewed the Roman attempt to turn the Holy City into an Aelia Capitolina. Of course, no one will suspect you of disregard for the sanctity of our Holy City, G-d forbid. But in such matters, good intentions do not alter the impact and consequences of an action on the public mind. Even if one could be sure that the majority of public opinion would not be shocked, and that is by no means certain, one cannot ignore the unfavorable influence in a matter that concerns a fundamental principle of our faith, even on a section of public opinion, and that should be adequate reason to avoid such an action. Certainly, all sections of Orthodox Jewry, not only in the Holy Land, but also in the Diaspora, would be quite chagrined, to say the least, although some quarters may suppress their reaction because of external pressure or other reasons. The whole question is much more serious than it may appear, and the few lines above, which have been couched in moderate and restrained terms, do not fully reflect the full depth of this question.
Having entered the New Year, may G-d grant that the renewed Divine blessings for this New Year, will include also the happy solution of the above problem.
Draft of Lipchitz’s Reply (free translation)
December 10, 1961
Most Honored Rabbi,
Please forgive me for my delay in responding to your immensely important letter. I thank you with all my heart for your frankness, which places me in an unequivocal position vis-à-vis you and lightens my burden of speaking to you with equal frankness.
I am in complete agreement with you that this is a profoundly serious question requiring brilliant illumination for the good of all of us. For this matter of "graven images" is far from clear.
Were not the cherubim, the lions, and the oxen of Solomon’s Temple themselves "graven images"? And how many others have I seen with my own eyes in what remains of synagogues in the Holy Land.
The bitter memories that the Romans have left in our consciousness with their Aelia Capitolina must not obscure the task that falls upon us: to help fulfill the prophecy of your prophet Isaiah, who promised us that from Zion shall go forth the Torah. And Torah signifies not only the Law, but also knowledge, light, and progress.
Israel must choose its path now if it wishes to survive. If it chooses the path of light and progress, it will live forever and fulfill the Prophet’s prediction.
This is my conviction, dear most honored Rabbi, and I lay it before you in all humility. You have your profound reasons, I am convinced, for thinking differently in light of your obligations and for acting as you do. Believe me when I say that I too have my convictions, which [compel?] me to think and act as I do, in the hope that Almighty G-d guides my steps along the right path.
Thank you again, dear most honored Rabbi, for your frankness. May G-d preserve you in good health of body and spirit for the benefit of all your people and all of us.
I would have been happy to discuss all this with you in person, were I not afraid of taking up your precious time. But if you would honor me with an audience, I would be delighted to come see you to discuss this question.
While awaiting this pleasure, I commend myself to your prayers, that the Divine Light may descend upon me to guide me in the fascinating task that is mine.
Your humble servant,
םייח עיבק ישפילץ
