Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4962 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

22 Kislev* 5717

Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I received news of you with pleasure through the distinguished chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs. But during our conversation, I learned with sorrow that you apparently take no account of your health and do not follow the doctors' prescriptions.

It is surely unnecessary to remind you in what manner these prescriptions must be regarded. The Shulchan Aruch* specifies this in the laws of Shabbos*, of Yom Kippur* (see note 1), and also regarding physical and moral damages. The general idea is expressed by the following statement of our Sages: "A man is not authorized to cause suffering to his body." For the body is the property of the Holy One, blessed be He (see note 2). This is a wondrous statement which, even after brief reflection, can take one's breath away!

May Hashem grant that this teaching of our Sages, whose qualitative dimension is wondrous, enable you to put into practice the injunction: "You shall take great care of your souls." Without a doubt, you will thus be able to multiply your communal activities, concerning Torah* and mitzvos* in general.

And you know the saying (see note 3) of the Maggid of Mezeritch*, whose hilula* was celebrated a few days ago (see note 4): "A small tear in the body corresponds to a great tear in the soul."

I enclose our latest publications. You will surely make their content available to as many people as possible. The merit of all depends upon this.

With blessing, to give good news, and for luminous and radiant days of Chanukah*,

P.S.: I thank you for thinking of forwarding that card to me. The person who brought it to you did not know the details concerning it. Basing myself on the teaching of our Sages in tractate Chulin* 44b, I forwarded it to the boarding school of the yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim*. For a public Shabbos* meal is a communal mitzvah*.

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B"H

22 Kislev* 5717

Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter, in which you tell me that you do not yet know how to study Torah* and ask whether at your age this activity can still be of use.

Several teachings of our Sages establish that a person must always study Torah*, regardless of his age. If he does so with ardor and constancy, at the yeshivah*, it is quite clear that this will be of great benefit to him.

It would be good, every weekday, to give tzedakah* before the morning prayer. After prayer, every day — including Shabbos* and the festivals — you should recite Tehillim*. Through all of this, you will greatly multiply your success in this matter.

Upon arriving in Marrakech, you will manage to settle there positively, both materially and spiritually.

With blessing,

On behalf of the Rebbe shlita*,

the secretary,

ד'תתקסב*

ב"ה, כ"ב כסלו, תשי"ז
ברוקלין.

שלום וברכה!

במענה על מכתבו, בו כותב שאין יודע עדיין ללמוד, ושואל אם לפי הגיל שלו יכול לעשות תועלת בתורה.

ידוע כמה מאמרי רז"ל אשר תמיד יש לאדם ללמוד תורה מבלי הבט על גילו, ובאם ילמוד בהתמדה ושקידה בהישיבה ודאי הדבר שיראה תועלת בלימודו.

ומהנכון שבכל יום חול קודם תפלת הבקר יתן מה לצדקה, ואחר התפלה בכל יום אפילו בשבת ויום טוב יאמר מזמורי תהלים, אשר על ידי כל זה תתרבה הצלחתו גם בהאמור, ונסיעתו למאראקעש תצליח להסתדרות טובה לפניו בגשמיות וברוחניות.

בברכה,

בשם כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א

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