Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1396 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,
2 Shevat 5712,
Brooklyn,

Greetings and brachos*,

To follow up on our conversation when you visited me, I wish to underscore for you a point that we evoked together and which is the following. Every man must meditate on the fact that we have been created by the Master of the world for a precise purpose, expressed by the Mishnah in Maseches Kiddushin in these terms: "I was created solely to serve my Creator."

Thus, man was created with the goal of accomplishing the Will of Hashem in the world. What is this Will? Torah Shebichsav* and Torah Shebal Peh* express it in the clearest manner, by stating precise teachings governing daily conduct, not only for rabbanim*, shochtim*, and teachers, but also for businessmen, tradesmen, doctors, and lawyers.

When he wakes up, a Yid* begins his day by saying Modeh Ani: "I thank You, living and eternal King, for You have restored my neshamah* within me with mercy. Great is Your faithfulness." He thereby proclaims that Hashem is the Master of the world and directs it with great mercy. Consequently, Hashem asks of man in general and of the Yid in particular only what he is capable of doing, or, more exactly, what is expected of him. It is absolutely certain that, when the moment comes, a Yid can effectively discharge the shlichus* entrusted to him.

This is particularly true with regard to you. Hashem has helped you, and you are well established in your city, where you exercise an influence on those around you. You must therefore consider yourself as the messenger of Hashem and, day by day, illumine your environment with the light of Torah and mitzvos*.

Moreover, you cannot in any way content yourself with yesterday's situation and consider that you have already discharged your obligation. Indeed, the sign of vitality is growth. The following image of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, defines the moral life of a Yid. He who undertakes the ascent of a steep mountain cannot in any way stop along the way. If he did, he would slip and immediately go back down.

And one must not ask how one can climb without stopping. As we have seen, Hashem demands it, and He therefore grants the possibility of doing so, as well as the necessary kochos*. The human body permits illustrating the same idea. Its various limbs must rest from time to time. The brain and the heart, on the other hand, function permanently. It is on this condition that this body is alive.

I hope that you will meditate on what we spoke about and on what I am writing to you in the present letter. May Hashem strengthen you, so that you may assume the shlichus of Yiddishe* spirituality that He entrusts to you in your city of Norfolk. You will influence those around you and all those whom you can contact, in order to bring them closer to Yiddishkeit*, to Torah and mitzvos. If you apply what has just been said, you will surely succeed.

You spoke to me of your son and your daughter. Not knowing whether they read Yiddish fluently[1], I am enclosing the copy of a letter[2] that I addressed to a group of students who visited me. I hope it will also interest your children.

I have good hope that you will announce good news to me about all that has just been said. I hope that we will meet again before you leave, and, if possible, even sooner than we had agreed when you came to see me.

With my brachah*,

Notes
(1) This letter is written in Yiddish.
(2) In English.

ב״ה ,ד׳ שבט ,ה׳תשי״ב

ברוקלין ,נ.י.

שלום וברכה!

שמחתי לקבל ידיעה ע״י מזכירי ,שזוגתו שתחי׳ כבר ב״ה בבית

ומחלימה היטב .תקותי שהמצב ילך וישתפר.

ברצוני לעורר שוב אודות אחותו ומה שהי׳ עליו לברר בנוגע לגירות.

בטח יודע מהספרים הקדושים עד כמה אפילו יום נוגע בשאלת גירות.

תקותי שיתמסר לדבר בזריזות ,ויתקן את מה שצריך לתקן ,בהקדם.

אין על כך תירוץ ,אפילו אם נדמה שלא ינצליחו ל[פעול ,כי האמת היא שאם

עושים ברצינות ,פועלים במוקדם או במאוחר ,ולכל הפחות במדה

מסויימת .תקותי לשמוע בשורות טובות בזה.

בקשר עם יום השנה השני של כ״ק מו״ח אדמו״ר זצוקללה״ה נבג״מ

זי״ע ,הנני מצרף בזה רשימה של הצעותיי כיצד להתנהג .הוא ,כאחד שזכה

להיות אצלו אישית ,בטח ימלא חלק מההצעות בנוגע ליום השנה ,או כולן.

בברכה לשמוע ממנו בשורות טובות.