Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5489 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

29 Iyar 5717

Brooklyn

Blessings and greetings (note: this letter is addressed to a woman),

I learned, with great surprise, that you have the custom of fasting, from time to time, on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as on the eve of Rosh Chodesh*. Now, you know the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov* that the body must be in good health and not become an obstacle to joyful service of Hashem. One can observe concretely, in our era, that frequent fasts weaken one's state of health and subsequently become a hindrance to the fulfillment of mitzvos*.

Of course, this applies to fasts that one takes upon oneself voluntarily, but not to those that are ordained by the Shulchan Aruch*. And if one specifically seeks the quality of fasting, one should know the teaching (note: see letter no. 4614) of the Rebbe Maharash*, that one can then refrain from uttering words that should not be spoken, even when one very much wants to say them. This includes not only lashon hara* (evil speech) but also idle words. And the fast, in its literal sense, can consist of eating only what is good for one's health, without specifically seeking what is pleasing to the palate.

I hope that these few lines will suffice for you to put into practice what has been said. I presume that you have adopted this practice more than three times, and it will therefore be necessary to annul your vow (hataras nedarim*). Then, you will replace your fasts with what has been described above. May Hashem assist you in all of this, and may you, together with your husband, guide your son on a Chassidic path, in good health and in joy.

With my blessing,

On behalf of the Rebbe Shlita,

The secretary,