Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1823 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Elul 5712,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the members and to those responsible of the shul

Kahal Chassidim, in Manchester,

to whom Hashem will grant long life,

Greetings and blessings,

I obtained, a few days ago, a copy of your letter. I had the pleasure of ascertaining that you appreciate at their just value the work and the realizations of the great Rav, distinguished chassid who fears Hashem, Rav Shmuel Rein, shochet* of your community[1].

You therefore consider his work with interest and depth. To remain in contact with that place, you have expressed the wish that he come here as the representative of your community.

I hope that your good sentiments will continue to develop, like all that is alive, that they will manifest themselves, in all domains, among the members of the community and in their homes. For our Torah and our faith do not limit their application to one part of the day, occulting Yiddishkeit during the rest of the time. The Torah of life, given by the living Hashem, governs the totality of life, from its first instant to the last, after one hundred and twenty good years.

For one is not a Yid only at shul, during the time of davening or of study, but also at home, in the street, at work. And we say, twice a day[2], "when you are settled in your home, when you walk on the way."

You propose that Rav Rein come here. According to what you tell me of his state of health, I suppose that the fatigue of the journey and the change of habit, of nourishment, and of way of life will represent for him a great effort, as also will the displacement, even if it is undertaken joyously. Without doubt you have already transmitted to him my letter, which is drafted in the spirit of what has just been said.

I would like to thank you for the good idea of sending here someone who represents you, in particular because you are a community proudly bearing the name of Kahal Chassidim[3]. Hashem permits that a good thought be realized, but the Alter Rebbe explains in chapter 16 of Tanya that a concrete action is necessary for this[4].

The positive consequences which should have resulted from such a visit will therefore reveal themselves in your actions, even if your project could not be realized.

I conclude by expressing the wish that all those who belong to your community and the members of their family be inscribed and sealed for a good year, in the course of which each will obtain the satisfaction of his needs, material and spiritual.

With my blessing,

[1] See, on the contents of this letter and concerning Rav Rein, letter 1752.
[2] In Shema Yisroel.
[3] The community of chassidim*.
[4] Thought alone does not suffice.