Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5830 — Health

B"H

6 Marcheshvan* 5718

Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter of this Tuesday. Although you do not specify, I hope that upon your return to New Haven, you transmitted the content of the Chassidic* gathering (farbrengen*) that took place here, that you communicated to those upon whom you exert your influence the points that concern them and, in fact, all the points concern them, since the discussion pertained to Torah* and mitzvos*, which were given to all Jews until the end of the generations. It is, moreover, for this reason that at the giving of the Torah*, it was said: "I am Hashem your Elokim*," in the singular. Indeed, these words were addressed, personally, to each of the six hundred thousand men present, as well as to the souls of all the generations, who were likewise present near Mount Sinai, as explained in the Pirkei* de Rabbi Eliezer*.

In accordance with your request, all the names you write to me will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us. If you also indicate the name of your wife and that of her mother, in the Holy Tongue, I will mention it as well. Indeed, the Jewish custom is to cite the name of the mother. May Hashem grant that you soon give me good tidings regarding all the points you write to me, as well as regarding the flask of oil to which you allude (note 1: The recipient of this letter wrote: "The Rebbe stated that my son could be compared to a flask of oil."). In fact, we are approaching Chanukah*, whose miracle was evident and for which one prepared through the self-sacrifice that the Jewish people had demonstrated beforehand. Now, this self-sacrifice is not limited solely to waging war against the non-Jews who attack (note 2: as was the case at Chanukah*). It also consists of battling one's animal soul*, which is even necessary more often, and if this is expected of us, it is because we possess the strength to achieve it, with joy and enthusiasm.

With my blessing to convey good tidings,

---

B"H

7 Marcheshvan* 5718

Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter of this Wednesday, in which you communicate the doctor's opinion regarding the condition of your left eye. And you ask me my opinion. As you know, our Torah*, Torah of life, grants the physician the authorization and therefore also the power to heal. Of course, a surgical procedure such as the one you describe must be performed by the best specialist, possessing extensive experience in this matter. May He Who heals all flesh and performs wonders send you healing, through the agency of this man and this treatment, at a good and fruitful time.

The body of man is connected to his soul, and for a Jew, to the Torah*. Everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, created in the body therefore possesses its equivalent and its source in the soul, and likewise everything that a Jew possesses is found in the Torah*. Consequently, every improvement necessary for the body must correspond to a similar movement in the soul, and every recovery of a Jew introduces an equivalent situation with respect to the Torah*. Our Sages* say: "One who has a headache should devote himself to Torah*, one who has pain in his entire body should devote himself to Torah*."

In this instance, you must therefore make the decision to intensify, in the future, your study of the part of the Torah* that is defined as its luminaire — that is to say, its profound dimension — which, in our era, is revealed through Chassidus*. In this way, you will strengthen the success of the luminaire of the soul and that of the body. This is self-evident, in light of all that has been said.

With my blessing to convey good tidings of all this,

ה'תתל*

ב"ה, ז' מ"ח, תשי"ח
ברוקלין.

שלום וברכה!

במענה למכתבו מיום הרביעי, בו כותב אודות חוות דעת הרופא בהנוגע למצב עינו שמאלית, ושואל דעתי בזה.

והנה כבר ידועה הוראת תורתנו תורת חיים שהיא הנותנת רשות שבענין זה תוכנו גם כן כח לרופא לרפאות, ובנתוח כאותו שכותב מובן ג"כ שצריך להעשות ע"י רופא הכי מומחה, שבטח יש לו נסיון (פראקטיקע) יותר בזה, שהנסיון בזה נוגע יותר מאשר החכמה, ויהי רצון שהרופא כל בשר ומפליא לעשות ירפאהו ע"י איש פלוני וטפול פלוני בעת ובשעה טובה ומוצלחת.

ומובן שכיון שעניני גוף האדם תלוים בעניני נשמת האדם ועניני האיש הישראלי תלוים בתורה, ובמילא כל מה שברא הקב"ה בגוף נמצא דוגמתו ומקורו בנשמה, וכל מה שישנו באיש הישראלי נמצא הוא בתורה, מזה מובן שכשצריכים תיקון בגוף צ"ל תיקון בענין המתאים דהנשמה, וכשצריכים תקון ושיפור בענין של איש הישראלי צריכים תקון ושיפור בענין המתאים בתורה, וכמרז"ל חש בראשו יעסוק בתורה חש בכל גופו יעסוק בתורה וכו', ובנ"ד מוכרח שיחליט להוסיף מכאן ולהבא בלימוד חלק התורה הנקרא מאור שבתורה זוהי פנימית התורה (שבדורנו נתגלתה בתורת החסידות), ועי"ז תתוסף ההצלחה במאור עניני הנשמה ובמאור עניני הגוף, וק"ל ע"פ כל הנ"ל.

בברכה לבשו"ט בכל האמור.