By the Grace of G-d
20th of Marcheshvan, 5725
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. Y...
Detroit 26, Mich
Greeting and Blessing:
I was duly informed about the meeting in regard to the mechitza, and I have just received the happy tidings that the mechitza has been installed.
I therefore want to take this opportunity to thank you for your thoughtfulness in letting me know the good news, and especially to congratulate you on the good deed accomplished.
A mechitza has always been a basic and essential requirement of a Jewish synagogue, and its importance is even greater in our time, because of the considerable confusion which prevails even among adults, not to mention younger ones, who cannot nowadays judge for themselves as to the fundamental aspects of our faith and religious practices. This is particularly true in regard to the synagogue which is the vital nerve center of Jewish religious life.
Furthermore, experience has shown that the serious decline in Jewish religious life and the observance of the Torah and mitzvot in the daily life is due to the concessions which some sections of Jews began to make, and one concession and compromise led to another in logical sequence. We have seen how the tampering with the mechitza in some quarters, and its removal in others from the synagogue has eventually led to the removal of the whole boundary between Jews and non-Jews, bringing about the plague of intermarriage, etc., as also the removal of the boundary between right and wrong, moral and immoral and so forth.
I am confident that your accomplishment will serve as a challenge and inspiration to other synagogues to follow your example. This will accord with the teaching of our Sages that “One Mitzvah brings another in its train," which means that not only the person performing the Mitzvah will be inspired and encouraged to go from strength to strength, but that the Mitzvah performed will also serve as an example and inspiration to others to be emulated, thus creating a continuous chain reaction of mitzvot.
May the merit of this great Mitzvah stand you, and all those who are associated with you in it, in good stead, materially and spiritually.
With blessing,
