Editing Hebrew (section)

==== In Educational Institutions ====
In his letter from Marcheshvan 5697 (1937) to Rabbi Yehuda Shmotkin from Petach Tikva (who apparently asked whether it is permissible to use the Hebrew language. In this letter, the Rebbe Rayatz also writes to him about "the obligation of Chassidic women and girls to stand in the first row in every project strengthening religion and Judaism in general"), the Rebbe Rayatz writes: "The language which the modernizers created and formed is like all languages and whistles of the chirpers and their agreements that this pronunciation movement indicates this thing and that pronunciation movement indicates another matter, which has neither prohibition nor permission and is merely optional. The main prohibition is to speak secular matters - because prohibited speech is forbidden in any language - but secular matters are repulsive to speak in the same language in which Hashem blessed be He gave us His holy Torah and in which the Holy One, blessed be He, speaks with His servants the prophets. Let us be grateful to the creator and former of the spoken language in Eretz Hakodesh (may it be built and established) who inserted several invented words, only agreed upon for language like all languages. And regarding what was written that those who speak this language say: 'our language is with us, who is master over us' - this is not specifically said in this language; in German, French, and English languages they also say 'who is master over us,' and one should not blame this spoken language just as one does not blame other languages."

The Rebbe addressed this question on several different occasions. In 5714 (1954), he wrote to the administration of the Talmud Torah in Kfar Chabad, who were considering changing the language of instruction in the institution from Yiddish to Hebrew - that they should insist on teaching in Yiddish, and especially when seeing how the opposing side fights for changes in education, we must preserve every detail in education and not change anything.

However, in 5728 (1968) (when there were differences of opinion among parents in Kfar Chabad about whether the language of instruction in the Talmud Torah should be in Yiddish or Hebrew), the Rebbe wrote regarding the use and study of the Yiddish language in the Talmud Torah in Kfar Chabad, that since the main purpose of the institution is education for fear and love of Hashem and for Torah study and observance of mitzvos, the main issue is not which language they learn in (but in places where language has an influence on matters of fear of Heaven, then language also has importance accordingly), and the matter is subject to the decision and opinion of the majority of parents. It requires examination whether acquiring the special qualities of the Yiddish language is the responsibility of the Talmud Torah or the obligation of the parents and the atmosphere at home.

Several times the Rebbe strongly opposed the "Hebrew in Hebrew" language teaching method, which was instituted by the maskilim (enlightened ones) and against which our Rebbes fought.

Regarding dedicating time from the schedule for Hebrew studies, the Rebbe wrote that "those who do this - rob the students of many hours from their holy studies. And through this, it also diminishes their knowledge in practical observance of mitzvos and fear of Heaven, and they cause them to stumble in matters of rabbinical law and also Torah law. Heaven forbid."