Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4151 — Health

B"H

7 Adar 5716

Brooklyn, New York

To all who cherish the Torah* and the mitzvos*,

to the Chassidim* in particular, wherever they may be,

may Hashem* grant you long life,

I greet you warmly and bless you,

The Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* of Lod, in our Holy Land — which also includes immigrants from Russia, as well as members of our Sephardic brethren — and its branches, were founded by my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us.

Thank Hashem*, this Yeshivah* has grown and expanded quantitatively, through the number of its students, and qualitatively, through its study of the Torah* and the luminary it contains, through the pure fear of Hashem* and the education of its students, in conformity with the will of its founder.

As with everything that belongs to the domain of holiness, regarding which our Torah*, Torah of life, says that there must be elevation, the Yeshivah* grows and expands, particularly in the recent period, due to the urgent necessity of opening its doors wide to new immigrants, to those coming from Morocco. By integrating them into the Yeshivah*, they can be saved, and they must therefore not remain outside, Heaven forbid.

The need of the moment, the primary necessity, is therefore to expand the domain of the Yeshivah*, the tent of Torah* and the tent of prayer, and to strengthen its foundations.

It is unnecessary to specify how difficult the times are, due to our many transgressions. It is therefore precisely in the palaces of Torah* and prayer that one most feels the constriction. Now, if we feel the distress for those already inside (who already attend and therefore suffer from the constriction), how much more so for those who have just arrived (who need to be integrated now) and who knock on the door of the Yeshivah*.

Consequently, the administration of the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* of Lod finds itself obligated to delegate a fundraiser, in order to impress upon our brothers, the children of Israel, that they must help this institution in this difficult moment.

I therefore rely on the statement of our Sages that one counsels eagerness only to those who naturally possess this quality.

And I address to you, through these few lines, an urgent appeal. I ask you to receive this representative of the Yeshivah* with goodwill, to make your contribution with generosity — your own and that of others — financial and physical, to provide your concrete and rapid help to the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* of Lod.

You know the great merit that constitutes supporting the Torah* of the many, particularly that of the Yeshivos* and Talmud Torahs* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, who continues his work on high, who prays for each and every one of those who participate in his holy accomplishments.

This participation is the channel and vessel that evokes and integrates the blessings of Hashem*, in all needs, material and spiritual. And everything depends on the number of actions. By multiplying the vessels, one can intensify the blessing and the success.

With my blessing for all that is good,

M. Schneerson,

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B"H

7 Adar 5716

Brooklyn

I greet you and bless you,

I am responding to your letter of 5 Adar, a month during which one increases one's joy. You tell me of your desire to achieve teshuvah*. You write that you intend to accomplish this through fasting, and no doubt this is truly your intention.

In my view, one must adopt the position of the Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, according to which, in our era, fasting causes illness or weakness. And it is not in this way that one achieves teshuvah*, Heaven forbid. Rather, one must study the Torah*, pray with the congregation in the proper manner, and in particular recite Tehillim*.

As for fasting, you should put into practice the teaching of the Rebbe Maharash* according to which fasting is a form of the service of Hashem* consisting of reflecting sincerely on one's own situation for fifteen minutes each day. Please consult the Sefer HaToldos of the Rebbe Maharash*, published by Kehot Editions in 5707 (1947) in Brooklyn, at page 72. Obviously, an increase in Torah* and mitzvos* must result from this reflection.

Of course, what has just been said about fasts does not apply to those prescribed by the Shulchan Aruch*, such as, for example, the Fast of Esther. Regarding those, one must consult a Rav, who will make a decision based on the state of health.

Every weekday, before prayer, you should also give a few cents to tzedakah* and observe the three studies that concern everyone, instituted by my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, dealing with the Chumash*, Tehillim*, and Tanya*. These consist of reciting each day, after the morning prayer, Tehillim* according to their monthly division; studying each day a Parshah* of the Chumash* with the commentary of Rashi*, from the Sidrah* of the week — on Sunday from the beginning to Sheini, on Monday from Sheini to Shelishi, and so on; and learning each day a passage of the Tanya* according to its annual division.

May Hashem* grant you success in all that has been said.

With my blessing,

For the Rebbe Shlita*,

the secretary,

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B"H

7 Adar 5716

Brooklyn

I bless you and greet you,

I am responding to your letter of 6 Shevat. I thank you for having transmitted my greetings to your friends. No doubt you did not content yourself with that, but you ensured that they became closer, through the Torah* and mitzvos* that bind Jews to one another, as the Alter Rebbe* explains in Chapter 32 of his holy Tanya*.

He says, indeed, that only the bodies are separate. Therefore, those who give preponderant place to their body and only accessory importance to their soul cannot know true friendship and brotherhood. They draw close only when it serves their interest. Please consult this text.

Moreover, the evil inclination* intervenes and emphasizes the worth of each person, showing that what contradicts love is stronger than what justifies it.

It is not so when one tells oneself that a Jewish soul is a "veritable part of the Divine Above," that all have one Father, through the source of the soul in the One Hashem*. For all that, it remains necessary to strengthen one's attachment to Hashem* our Elokim*, through the Torah* and the mitzvos* — the straight and easy path enabling one to love every Jew, great or small.

May Hashem* grant that your words emanate from the heart. Thus, they will penetrate the hearts of those who hear them.

You tell me that some time ago you devoted yourself to studies, then you ceased doing so. Now you wish to resume. You ask me whether you should do so and what discipline to choose. However, you do not give me the following details:

A) You are very busy influencing your friends and those around you in general, in order to draw them closer to the Torah* and the mitzvos*. This requires, on your part, a moral effort and in-depth reflection. Will you have time left for anything beyond what is necessary for the success of this enterprise — which is an increase and elevation in the study of the revealed Torah*, Chassidus*, and in the practice of the mitzvos*?

B) Even if you find, with difficulty, time for this without diminishing the success of your enterprise, I can answer your question only if you specify your objective. Is it to obtain a diploma that will subsequently enable you to earn a better livelihood, or solely to acquire knowledge?

The manner of considering your question and answering it depends on all of this.

With my blessing of success and to convey good tidings,

For the Rebbe Shlita*,

the secretary,

ד'קנא**

ב"ה, ז' אדר, תשט"ז
ברוקלין.

שלום וברכה!

במענה על מכתבו מו' שבט. ת"ח על מה שמסר הפ"ש לחבריו שי' ובודאי איננו מסתפק בד"ש בלבד אלא מעוררם על הקירוב יותר והוא על ידי ענינים של תורה ומצות שהם הן המקשרים את בני ישראל אחד לחבירו וכמו שביאר רבנו הזקן בתניא קדישא פרק ל"ב, שהגופים מחולקים והעושים גופם עיקר ונפשם טפלה אי אפשר להיות אהבה ואחוה אמיתית ביניהם אלא התלוי' בדבר לבדה וכו' עיין שם, ובפרט כשמתערב היצה"ר ועל ידי הכרת ערך עצמו והדגשתו בזה מסביר איך שהדברים היפך האהבה מכריעים את הדבר שצריך להביא לאהבה, משא"כ כשמתבונן איך שנפש הישראלי היא חלק אלקה ממעל ממש ואב אחד לכולנו מצד שרש נפשם בה' אחד, אלא שצריך לחזק התקשרות בה' אלקינו ע"י התורה והמצוה שזוהי דרך ישרה וקלה לבוא לידי קיום מצות ואהבת לכל נפש מישראל למגדול ועד קטן, ויה"ר שיהיו דבריו יוצאין מן הלב ובמילא יכנסו ללב השומעים.

בשאלתו שלפני זמן התעסק בלימודים והפסיק, ונתעורר בו עתה הרצון ללמדם שוב, ושואל אם ימלא רצונו ובאיזה מהלימודים יבחר. אבל איננו מסביר, א) כיון שעבודה רבה לפניו להשפיע על חבריו ועל סביבתו בכלל לקרבם לתורה ומצותי', שלזה בטח דרושה יגיעת נפש התבוננות והתעמקות, האומנם ישאר זמן פנוי לענינים אחרים מלבד הדרושים להצלחת פעולות אלו שהן ההוספה והעלי' בלימוד הנגלה וחסידות וקיום המצות. ב) אפילו אם בדוחק ימצא זמן פנוי מהאמור לעיל מבלי שיגרע על ידי זה בהצלחת הפעולה, הנה בכדי לענות על שאלתו צריך לבאר מהו התכלית, אם קבלת תעודה דיפלומה ובענין שיכול לשמש להרחבת הפרנסה לאחר זמן או להוספת ידיעות בעלמא, שבכ"ז תלוי היחס והמענה על שאלתו.

בברכת הצלחה ולבשו"ט,

בשם כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א

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