Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2667 — Chinuch
Volume 9 · Letter 47 · To: distingué ‘Hassid qui craint D.ieu
B"H
20 Iyar 5714,
Brooklyn.
To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem,
Rav Aharon HaKohen (Rav A. Katz, of Chicago),
Greetings and blessing,
I was satisfied to have your news from your brother, the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself faithfully to communal needs, Rav Yaakov HaKohen (also of Chicago). Nevertheless, he gives me no detail concerning you, and I therefore hope that you will yourself inform me.
May Hashem grant that you give me only good news of yourself and of the influence that you exercise on your environment, in order to draw close Yidden* to our Father Who is in Heaven, each in his manner.
Indeed, the Torah and the mitzvos* address themselves to all Yidden* in the same manner. Nevertheless, certain principles must from the outset be posed. One who is a merchant must also fix a time to study Torah. For all that, he serves Hashem essentially in conducting commerce, in giving tzedakah*, in abstaining, in particular, from all unfair competition, from theft.
And those who exercise a religious function — Rav, shochet*, teacher, or yeshivah* student — must also give tzedakah*, not engage in unfair competition, and not steal.
But the latter must, above all, invest themselves fully in the study of Torah and in fervent prayer. There are still other differences between the categories of men, although all Yidden* are bound, in an identical manner, to the practice of mitzvos*, as we have said. And no one can claim that he will accomplish such a mitzvah* willingly, while the second, posing difficulties for him, can advantageously be replaced by another mitzvah*.
It results from this that one who has gifts of an orator, or who exercises an influence on his acquaintances and friends, must effectively devote himself to this diffusion and lead Yidden* to study Torah, to practice mitzvos*.
If one expects all this from a Yid*, it is, beyond doubt, because Hashem gives him the strength to accomplish it. And He rewards him by according him blessing and success in all his needs and in those of the members of his family.
May Hashem grant that you announce to me good news in all that has just been said.
With my blessing for success,