Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5097 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

4 Shevat* 5717

Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I am pleased to receive, from time to time, good tidings from you. May Hashem* grant that they be exclusively good — not only spiritually but also physically, for among Jews, these two dimensions are connected.

The Rambam* states that "having a healthy body is among the ways of Hashem," and likewise, commenting on the verse: "When you see the donkey..." (see note 1) "you shall help him," the Baal Shem Tov* explains (see note 2) that one does not serve Hashem through fasting and mortification, that the body must also participate in this service, as it is stated: "In all your ways, know Him."

If this applies at all times, how much more so is it the case in our era, in which a relatively small number of individuals devote themselves to the service of the Torah and the mitzvos*. The presence of each person is therefore much more necessary; the value of each action is much more decisive.

Concretely, one can indeed observe that when the body is weakened, the actions that the soul accomplishes through its medium are also weakened, as the Tanya* explains in chapter 47, which you will consult.

I would not have imagined that a lengthy explanation on this subject would have been necessary for someone like you. However, according to the reports that have reached me, you are not taking care of your body's health as would be necessary, based on what has just been explained. Now, does the verse not say: "You shall take great care of your souls"? I am convinced that you do this with good intention, but as I said, each person in our era is a soldier who must comply with orders and instructions.

We have been told that in this period of ikvesa d'Meshicha* (see note 3), the essential form of the service of Hashem is tzedakah* and concrete action, as the Alter Rebbe* explains in Iggeres HaKodesh*, at the end of chapter 9. One must therefore do everything in one's power to be as active as possible.

There is a teaching, given to several individuals, that we heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, our leader. It is the necessity of eating in the morning before prayer, and for many, of even taking cakes, in order to be stronger (see note 4). In this way, one will be able to pray with greater concentration.

You surely know the famous letter of the Baal Shem Tov to his disciple, the Baal Toledos Yaakov Yosef*, in which he rejects the multiplication of fasts. It is printed in HaTamim*, volume 1, in Ginzei Nistaros*, volume 1, chapter 68, and in several other works.

I thank you for writing to me that at least from now on, your attitude will conform to the teaching of my father-in-law, whose merit protects us, and that you will take proper care of your body's health — which will strengthen that of the soul and its service of Hashem.

You will therefore replace fasting with tzedakah, or else with a fast of speech (see note 5), as the Toledos Maharach* reports (see note 6) on page 72. Likewise, you will continue to act on behalf of the holy institutions, in particular for Kollel Chabad*, without overtaxing yourself physically — which is also beneficial for the effectiveness of what one accomplishes, since one can then strengthen the action.

I have good hope that by adopting this attitude, you will very quickly observe increased success, and this success in your sacred mission will continue for many more years.

I enclose the latest publications. Without doubt, you will make them available to the greatest number.

With my blessing,

Notes

(1) "Of your fellow buckling under its burden, and you would want not to help him" — chamor* (donkey) being of the same root as chomer* (matter).

(2) See, on this subject, letter no. 4924.

(3) When his coming is imminent.

(4) See, on this subject, letter no. 4768.

(5) Consisting of refraining from uttering useless words.

(6) Of which the Rebbe himself is the author.