Impact of a Diploma
Do all you can to finish academic studies; the impact a diploma will have on spreading Yiddishkeit and Chassidus; whether to move to another country to complete a dissertation
By the Grace of G-d
25th of Teves, 5729
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. & Mrs. ...
Greeting and Blessing:
No doubt you received my previous letter acknowledging receipt of the newspaper clippings, etc.
I trust that you are doing all in your power in the natural order of things in regard to concluding your studies and receiving your diploma without undue delay. And when the Jew does all that is up to him in the ordinary course of things, G-d blesses him with Hatzlocho.
It is surely unnecessary to emphasize to you the need to consider this not only a matter of Parnosso and other material aspects, but also as an additional force and quality in your efforts to spread Yiddishkeit and Chasidus. For, obviously, people take much greater notice of, and are much more influenced by, a person with an academic diploma.
Although there may be some negative factors in your present place, I think that it is not wise for you to move to another country, for the purpose of completing your dissertation, because the positive aspects in your present place outweigh the negative ones. I have in mind that you will spare yourself the adjustment which would be required when moving to a new place, and that also in your present surroundings you have friends of long standing with whom you can discuss problems, having also the satisfaction of meeting with observant Jews, although their number is at present still not large. The important thing for you at this time is to make a firm and resolute decision to complete your academic work as soon as possible, and to carry out this decision with perseverance and confidence, with Bitochon in G-d that you will have Hatzlocho in this.
May G-d grant that you should both have good news to report in all matters, and especially in the matter of having much true Yiddish Chasidish Nachas from your children.
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
