Taking a job in a city devoid of Yiddishkeit is not advisable – from a business perspective; investigating the cause of a job vacancy; a living example of a layman proves more effective than a rabbi; finishing a degree to boost discipline and self-confidence
By the Grace of G-d
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. ...
Brookline, Massachusetts
Greeting and Blessing:
I am in receipt of your letter. I was pleased to note, first of all, that it was written in a more optimistic mood, and in a happier frame of mind than some of your previous letters. May G-d grant that this mood should prevail with you constantly and not only at the time of your letter-writing, and that you should have tangible reasons to have a happy frame of mind, based not only on happy prospects in the future, but also on happy conditions in the present.
Of the two offers about which you write, I agree with you that the first one, which would entail living in a place devoid of Yiddishkeit, is not acceptable. It is not acceptable not only because of the difficulties it would entail in maintaining your living standards insofar as Yiddishkeit is concerned, but also because it demonstrates the atmosphere prevailing in the Company and its attitude towards Jews, not only religious Jews, but Jews in general.
On the other hand, the second offer that you mention does not have this disadvantage. As you write, it would only entail the inconvenience of having to travel a half an hour more than at present. However, as a further precaution, and in order to leave no element of doubt, it would be well to clarify the reason for the vacancy, namely, why the present occupant of this position is leaving, or whether this is a newly-created position. In the latter case, it would be well to ascertain, if possible, how steady this new position would be. If the information that you gather proves satisfactory, it looks to me like a good proposition, and good not only insofar as you personally are concerned, but also insofar as it will give you new and increased opportunities to demonstrate that a strictly observant Jew can occupy a high professional position and enjoy the respect of the community at large, while declaring that he owes all this only to G-d’s benevolence, and not “My strength and the power of my hand has made me all this substance.”
As experience shows, such a message emanating from a layman is more effective, penetrates more deeply and reaches a wider audience than if it comes from a Rabbi, Rosh Yeshiva or the like, in which case one may brush it off as ‘just another sermon.’ This is in addition to the basic consideration that every Jew is, above all, a Divine messenger, assigned to make this world a better and more decent place to live in, both materially and spiritually, a mission which the Jew fulfills through living his own personal life in full accord with the Torah and its Mitzvoth. I believe I have had occasion to touch upon this subject in my previous correspondence and talks with you.
With reference to your writing about the possibility of doing even more in matters of Torah and Mitzvoth, it would be well to ponder the saying of our Sages that “All the Jewish people are one organism.” In the case of the physical body, anything that befalls one part of the body affects the whole body; and so it is with regard to every individual Jew. If you reflect on this, I think you will get added insights as to the other actions that you might take. Moreover, it is a matter of experience that when there is a firm resolution to do something good, once the opportunity presents itself, Divine Providence provides the opportunity.
I was pleased to note that you are maintaining your contact with Mr. ..., and that he is feeling much better. Although you do not mention any details, I presume that you are referring to his physical health. In line with our discussion, it would be well to prevail upon him to complete his studies and obtain his degree or diploma. For, in addition to the fact that this will help him towards a greater measure of self-discipline, it will also increase his self-confidence, etc. May G-d grant that he should be successful in this also.
With blessing,
