Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4401 — Health

B"H

29 Iyar* 5716

Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I received with pleasure your letter from the thirtieth day of the Omer* (see note 1), which followed a long silence. You briefly describe your situation, and I thank Hashem* for the good news you give me regarding this person's health. May Hashem* grant that it improve even further.

You write that you wish to come to the aid of our brethren in our Holy Land, may it be restored and rebuilt by our righteous Moshiach*. As you know, King David, who is alive forever, states in Psalm 127 that Hashem* "builds the house" and "guards the city," and it is only in that case that the building and guarding by men of flesh and blood can effectively prove successful.

One must therefore ensure that Hashem* acts in the manner just described. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana, Rabbi Ami, and Rabbi Assi indicate how to achieve this in the introduction to Eichah Rabbah* of the Midrash Rabbah*. They ask that our holy Torah* be studied in our Holy Land, permeated with the fear of Hashem* and based on sacred values.

Now, the number of those who provide their help in this way is still insufficient, and even those who do so cannot satisfy the needs. Whoever cherishes the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, who is permeated with the love of one's fellow which finds expression through the love of the Torah* and the love of Hashem*, must therefore support our institutions in the Holy Land, may it be restored and rebuilt, in a completely different manner.

If you are reproached that your participation in the various campaigns is not significant, you will point out that you do not waste your money. On the contrary, your donations are relatively larger. Moreover, such participation also reduces the danger and therefore the expenses that would be necessary for material considerations. You must understand what I mean.

One should add that, according to the ruling of our Sages*, "your poor take priority (see note 2)" and "the poor of your city take priority (see note 3)." To the Chassidim*, to those who are attached or who have a connection (see note 4), who ask and inquire of me (see note 5), I advise directing their donations to the Chabad* institutions of our Holy Land, may it be restored and rebuilt.

The work accomplished there, according to the needs of the moment, is growing ever broader and greater. I hope that at Kfar Chabad*, where Hashem* permitted this conflagration (see note 6), the Attribute of Mercy will be revealed — greater than that of goodness which precedes it — an inheritance without limit, extending from one extreme to the other (see note 7), in accordance with the teaching of the Alter Rebbe*, the Mitteler Rebbe*, and the Tzemach Tzedek*, for "it is there that Hashem* has commanded the blessing for eternity."

With my blessing,

(Notes in the original:

1. The 15th of Iyar*.

2. Over those of others.

3. Over those of another city.

4. With the Rebbe*.

5. About what should be done.

6. The attack that was perpetrated there. See, regarding this, Letter no. 4281 and the foreword.

7. See Letter no. 4307.)