Dear Shalom: Forgive us for the delay in answering your letter. It took your letter about two weeks or more to get to us and, with our own rush at this season, the present response is naturally delayed. Hindy and I are really delighted at the progress you are making, and the personal attention you are getting from the. For your sake, I hope you will be learning something other than this term. But even if so...

Dear Shalom: Thank you for your delightful letter of March 12. The rest of the members of my family will answer, if and when I can twist their arms. Not that they don’t want, but they are normally not letter writers. I am pleased to learn from your letter that you are adjusting better and much happier than you were. I am inclined, now, to agree with you, that were you to remain a second year, you would be better off continuing at ABI rather than הר עציון. The big question, of course, is whether it is worth your remaining one more year.I am interested in what you did with your paper on צדיק ורע לו. If you have it written up, do let me see a copy.With regard to your observance of יו"ט של גליות on Pesach, my feeling is that were I in Israel today I would follow the Israelis in their observance, especially since you are there for a year or probably more. However, I would not eat חמץ on שביעי של פסח. Frankly, I think the question should be answered for your by a local Israeli רב and not by me.Lynda had told us that you and she were going to have סעודת פורים with my sister in Israel on שושן פורים. I am sure you all had a wonderful time.Chaye enjoyed your older-coursin-advice, and we are all quite sure that there will be plenty of people left in yours and your aging generation.Meanwhile all my best for a חג כשר ושמח.Cordially,Rabbi Norman Lamm:cw