Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2517 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

11 Adar Sheni 5714,
Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessing,

I am responding to your letters of 22 Adar Rishon, of Rosh Chodesh*, and of 6 Adar Sheni. I thank you for informing me of the improvement in your state of health. Doubtless you are concerned with your physical health. Several texts of Chassidus* explain, indeed, that one must put into practice the precept "azov ta'azov imo*" [1].

When the body is in good health, it is easier to convince it that it must not disturb a person — that, on the contrary, it must come to his aid in serving Hashem. And the Baal Shem Tov* emphasizes that this must be done with simchah*.

Obviously, the magnitude of the veil and the darkness pains me. One can see with one's fleshly eyes that the difficulties are diminishing, that the moment is propitious for multiplying talmidim* drawn from various milieus, including from what one may, properly speaking, call "outside." This increase can be at first quantitative and then, in due time, qualitative as well. In place of all this, the internal difficulties multiply and develop, in domains whose futility even the nefesh-habahamis* perceives.

I have already written many times that there is enough work for everyone, enough kavod* — real or counterfeit. Yet each person draws the whole toward himself. The decisions and explanations evolve, depending on the period, from one extreme to the other.

My father-in-law the Rebbe explains, in one of his sichos* [2], that a moment will soon come when one will strike one's forehead, saying that one has just had the opportunity to serve Hashem in a pleasant manner and was unable to make the most of it.

To be sure, my father-in-law the Rebbe was alluding to the complete geulah*, and indeed, when we attain it, we shall regret not having seized the opportunities that presented themselves during the time of galus*. But, on a smaller scale, this is how it is for each person during the time of galus*. Certain matters are more clearly revealed because that which imposes their veil is removed. In this regard, then, one can apply what has just been said and adopt this manner of reasoning.

It would be well to explain to the teachers that they are working in the institutions of my father-in-law the Rebbe, whose merit shall protect us. Consequently, even if what they hold against this or that person is justified, they must not on that account punish themselves, diminish their own merit and success, by reducing their participation in these institutions. You will know how to find the words to tell them all this.

I do not mean to say that they should suffer, chas veshalom*. On the contrary, we have been able to see, recently, the great brachah* — not only spiritual but also material in the most literal sense — that can be obtained when my father-in-law the Rebbe invokes divine mercy on behalf of those who take part in his work. One can verify that this is concretely so.

I simply wish to underscore the necessity of explaining to them that they are mistaken in their approach to the matter. They behave as if it were the personal affair of this or that individual, against whom they wage war. If it were not so, why would they do all this rather than go and find another job?

Now, such an approach to the problem is totally false. My father-in-law the Rebbe entrusted them with an enviable lot, materially and spiritually. He showed them what they should choose, as it is said: "uvacharta bachayim*." There is surely no need to say more.

May Hashem grant you success, so that you may announce good tidings in all these matters. You will do so without anger and in a thoughtful manner, acceptable also to the talmidim*. Thus the solution found will be lasting.

With my blessing for a freilichen* Purim*, for yourself and for all the members of your family, in good health,

M. Schneerson

Notes:
[1] On this matter see letter no. 2475.
[2] On this matter see letter no. 680.

ב״ה ,כ״ה אד״ר ,תשי״ד

ברוקלין.

שלום וברכה!

במענה לכתבו ,אודות מה שבאות אליו מחשבות שונות לא

מתאימות וגם לא טובות ואינו יודע מנין זה מגיע וכוי.

ראשית ,עליו להפסיק לחטט בנוגע אליו ולרעיונות שלו ,ולהתנהג

בחיי היום יום לפי דרישת תורתנו הק׳ ולסמוך על השם יתברך שהוא

עצם הטוב שהוא ״ ברוך הוא -ינהיג אותו כפי שיותר טוב לו הן

בגשמיות והן ברוחניות.

ב׳מפה

השם; ראה גם אגרות־קרדש ברך ד אגרת תתקא .רבנסמן בהערות שם.

אגרות-קודש -

מתורגמות )ב׳תצא(

לפי בקשתו כשאהי׳ על הציון הק׳ של חמי כ״ק אדמו״ר

זצוקללה״ה נבג״מ זי״ע אזכירו לבריאות טובה ,אבל עליו לבדוק את

התפילין שלו וגם את המזוזות בדירתו ,שיהיו כולם כשרים .ולומר כל

יום לאחר התפילה בבוקר שיעור תהלים )לכל הפחות כפי שהתהלים

נחלק לימי החודש( ואם אפשר גם לתת כל יום לפני התפילה כמה

סנטים לקופת צדקה ,והשי״ת יעזור לו שבקרוב ממש מתוך בריאות

הנכונה יוכל לחזק יהדות בכל סביבתו.

בברכה.

בשם כ״ק אדמו״ר שליט״א,