Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1496 — Health

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Nissan 5712,

Brooklyn,

I greet and bless you,

It is surely unnecessary to remind you of the necessity of writing to your son. You shall tell him that, if it falls to every Jew, in every era, to put on tefillin*, how much more is it so for those who find themselves in the army. For the fact of wearing them protects them and permits them to return home, when the moment comes, in good health.

This is what my father-in-law, the Rebbe, told us at the time of the previous world war, and we have observed it with our eyes, in an incontestable manner. All the Jews who scrupulously observed the mitzvah of tefillin while they were in the army returned home safe and sound.

It can happen, during maneuvers or exercises, that it is not possible to put on tefillin first thing in the morning. One must therefore know that one can do it the entire day, until the setting of the sun. One can, at the very least, put them on, read the Shema Yisrael, and remove them, if it is not feasible to wear them longer and to say also the other tefillos*. And, even being in the army, it is always feasible to find these few minutes, including during maneuvers and exercises, for example.

I am certain that you shall find the words to explain what has just been said to your son. And Hashem shall permit that he return in good health to the home, when the moment comes.

I conclude by wishing you a kosher and joyous Yom Tov of Pesach, for you and for all the members of your family. You shall convey my regards to your brother, who was here some time ago. We then had together a long discussion.

P. S.: You shall find, enclosed, a Pesach message, which, I hope, will interest you.