We are pleased to present Issue 143 of Rebbe Responsa, a compilation of letters originally authored by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in English, culled from the Rebbe Responsa app.
Last week, we examined the Rebbe's opposition to attending college, particularly during one's formative years. The letters revealed the Rebbe’s unequivocal stance: college jeopardizes Jewish identity and exposes youth to the allure of assimilation. Modern campuses foster ideologies and lifestyles that contradict not only observant life but also the foundations of a moral society. Furthermore, college represents a departure from a Jew's sacred mission to illuminate the world with Torah and Mitzvos.
This week's issue uncovers another dimension of the Rebbe's approach. Addressed to individuals who have already invested years in college, these letters encourage them to complete their studies rather than allow their investment to go to waste, even when it contradicts their inclination to stop. In one remarkable instance, the Rebbe advises a ba'al teshuva to set aside his aspirations of entering chinuch and to finish qualifying as a lawyer, even offering financial assistance to help him complete his studies.
This position flows directly from the worldview expressed in last week's issue: a Jew's mission is to spread G-dliness in this world. In fulfilling this mission, he must utilize everything—including time spent in secular studies and academic degrees—in the service of G-d.
Included are eight previously unpublished letters from the Rebbe. These two installments present a selection of the Rebbe’s correspondence on this subject; a fuller collection is available on the Rebbe Responsa app. To properly understand the Rebbe’s position, readers are encouraged to study all available sources.
All Titles, Summaries, and Footnotes were added by the publisher unless otherwise noted.
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The Rebbe’s English letters represent a previously unexplored facet of the Rebbe’s Torah, containing profound wisdom and practical guidance expressed in clear, accessible language. We encourage you to download the Rebbe Responsa app, which offers the only comprehensive collection of the Rebbe’s English letters available to date. With over 5,000 letters organized by both topic and date, the app makes finding the Rebbe’s guidance and worldview simple and accessible.
May the study of these letters hasten the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
The Rebbe Responsa Team
