Why one must be on a higher level than those they wish to influence; impacting youth group through having them become givers; the daughter of a Kohen has Kohen qualities
By the Grace of G-d
10th of Adar, 5734
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Miss Chana Katz
1001 Pretorius St.
Hatfield, Pretoria
Rep. of So. Africa
Blessing and Greeting:
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 2nd of Adar, in which I am happy to note that you are walking in the footsteps of your parents in desiring, and being active, to spread Yiddishkeit in your environment.
No doubt you must have heard from your parents, as also having noted it yourself, that the best way of influencing others is to show a living example, and you are therefore trying to use this effective method. At the same time, you surely realize that if one’s aims are to influence someone to attain a certain level of Yiddishkeit, the person himself, the source of this influence, must attain a much higher level, for the simple reason that the other person will naturally conclude that he can be satisfied with a lower level than that of his teacher or mentor, etc.
The above already answers part of your question at the end of your letter, as to what can be done to help the confused young people in your community and country.
I would like to add another point as to making influence more effective. This is to involve the person or persons in the activity, so that they should not remain on the receiving end, but should also assume the position of influencing others who are not yet up to their level. Where one works with a group, for example, it is very effective to have every member of the group participate in rotation as leader of the group in the course of a session from time to time. Of course, it would be necessary to help the member of the group prepare himself or herself to address the group on the desired topic, and in the desired direction, by helping them find the proper source material and the like. In addition to all the benefits that this method entails, there is also the benefit of strengthening the loyalty of the members of the group to the whole group. For, just as when any member, whose turn it is to address the group, desires all of them to be present and to listen attentively, so he himself could do no less in regard to others addressing the group.
Needless to say, the field in which one could be active in strengthening Yiddishkeit is very broad. However, there are certain things of timely interest that have priority. Thus the next few weeks offer a special opportunity in regard to such Mitzvoth as are connected with the present time, namely, to follow up on the lessons and teachings of Purim, and then in connection with the approaching festival of Pesach, followed by the days of Sefira and Kabolas haTorah, and so forth.
In view of the fact that you are a daughter of a Kohen, you surely know that Kohanim have been blessed with special qualities to be a source of influence for all the Jewish people. To be sure, this special status is specifically expressed in certain Mitzvoth which are incumbent upon male Kohanim, such as Birkas Kohanim (Priestly Blessing), Nevertheless in a deeper sense, and insofar as the content of these matters is concerned, the daughters of Kohanim also partake in this special privilege, all the more so as there is also the hereditary aspect of a child, taking over much of the qualities and characteristics of the father.
May G-d grant that you should have good news to report in all above.
Please convey my personal regards to your parents, and the hope that since they have conveyed to you the content of our conversation when they were here, they surely have translated their own impressions and inspiration into concrete terms, in actual deed, in the spirit of our conversation.
Wishing you Hatzlocho and a happy and inspiring Purim to you and all the family,
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
