From a private conversation of the Lubavitcher Rebbe with Gershon Kranzler:
Orthodox Jewry has unfortunately concentrated upon defensive strategy. We were always worried lest we lose positions and strongholds. And indeed we had all reason for worry. One Jewish bastion after another has fallen into the hands of the non-religious.
Had Orthodox Jews, instead of waiting to defend, taken the offensive and sought to widen their influence and create more and better bastions for Torah Yiddishkeit, the situation would be quite different and the non-religious would not, as is now the case, dominate Jewish communal affairs.
The lesson to be drawn from this is obvious; to discharge ourselves of our duty we must take the initiative and wage an offensive.
This, of course, takes courage, planning, vision and the will to carry on despite all odds.[1]
[1] Quoted in G. Kranzler, “A Visit with the New Lubavitcher Rebbe,” Jewish Life, Sept.-Oct. 1951.
