Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4212 — Chinuch

B"H

9 Nissan 5716

Brooklyn

I greet you and bless you,

I am responding to your letter of 23 Adar, in which you write that you are originally from Kremenchug and have been living for many years already in Australia. It seems to you that your memory has recently weakened. Nevertheless, you do not specify what you are doing to strengthen your Jewish observance, that of your children, and that of your surroundings. Now, these two matters are connected.

When one has a Chassidic* origin, when one comes from a Chassidic* city, it is enough to want to use the strengths at one's disposal in the best way, even if decades have elapsed since then. When a Jew strives to attach his fellow to Hashem*, Who grants blessings in all domains, he actually obtains from Him the satisfaction of all his needs.

In my opinion, you should immediately act in this direction, in the appropriate manner, after consulting with the Chassidim* in your city, in order to strengthen Yiddishkeit* in general and the Yeshivah* Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch of Melbourne in particular. You can surely contribute to it and ensure that others follow your example.

In this way, your prayer and request will be more clearly answered: "Grant us discernment, understanding, and wisdom." The same applies to the other requests you formulate daily before Hashem*, particularly to strengthen your memory.

You should gradually memorize Mishnah* and also Tanya*, at least a few chapters of each, without tiring yourself in this study. If you begin to feel such fatigue, change your activity and then try again later. Moreover, every weekday morning, before the prayer, you should give tzedakah*.

It would be good to have your tefillin* checked and also the mezuzos* of your home, to ensure that they are kosher* in accordance with Halachah*. And you should observe, at least from now on, the three daily studies that apply to everyone, instituted by my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us. These pertain to the Chumash*, Tehillim*, and Tanya*, and are well known.

With my blessing to convey good tidings of all this and for a kosher* and joyous Pesach*,