Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5099 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

4 Shevat* 5717

Brooklyn

To the directors of the mutual aid fund

at the Karlin and Kovrin synagogue (see note 1),

may Hashem* grant you long life,

Greetings and blessings,

I was pleased to learn, from the great Rav, distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, devotes himself to communal needs, and conducts himself with fine character, Rav Shlomo Zalman Hecht* (see note 2), that you graciously accepted his proposal and will therefore extend your assistance to the charitable fund of Kollel Chabad*, located in the holy city of Yerushalayim*, which will be restored and rebuilt by our righteous Moshiach*. He also forwarded to me your check, designated for this fund, and you will find enclosed a receipt.

At a propitious moment, I will mention the names of all the individuals devoted to this cause, as conveyed to me by Rav Hecht, shlita*, at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit protects us. May Hashem grant that for many more years you devote yourselves to matters of Torah and mitzvos*, in particular to tzedakah*, which is regarded, on its own, as equivalent to all the divine commandments, as explained at length in chapter 37 of the holy Tanya*.

Moreover, this tzedakah also constitutes an act of benevolence — that is, one of its most elevated forms, as explained in the Shulchan Aruch*, Yoreh Deah*, chapter 249, paragraph 7 (see note 3).

Hashem has made known to us that "he who has compassion on the poor lends to Hashem, and He will repay him," in the words of the verse, Mishlei* 19:17. It is therefore certain that each one of you will be rewarded with the satisfaction of all his needs, as well as those of the members of his family, materially and spiritually.

With my blessing to convey good tidings,

Notes

(1) Presumably in Chicago.

(2) Of Chicago. See, regarding him, letters no. 3930, 4765, and 4985.

(3) Since tzedakah is given only to the poor, whereas a loan — an act of benevolence — can be extended to both the rich and the poor.