Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5898 — Health

B"H

4 Kislev* 5718

Brooklyn

Blessings and greetings,

You make reference to your journey to America and you consider making it on a ship belonging to Jews, which continues its course on Shabbos*. As I have explained in detail in some of my letters dealing with this subject (note 1: see on this subject letters no. 5534, 6010, 6089, 6097, 6121, and 6141), based on the manner in which ships are operated nowadays, there is no doubt that by traveling on a vessel belonging to Jews that sails on Shabbos*, one transgresses the holy day. Furthermore, many people are on board, and such a desecration of Shabbos* is therefore public. This is the case even if the journey begins at the start of the week. The Halachah* is not modified for that reason.

It is surely unnecessary to emphasize to you how important it is to observe Shabbos* and how terrible it is to desecrate it, especially in public. I would like to add that some seek to justify this desecration of Shabbos* by traveling on these ships with the argument that, in this way, the Jews to whom they belong will realize a profit. Indeed, these owners reside in Eretz Yisrael*, and in this way, the country will also benefit.

Moreover, following the same reasoning, one could demand — and it is indeed demanded — that all the factories of Eretz Yisrael* operate on Shabbos*, that all the fields be cultivated on Shabbos*. Indeed, these Shabbos* activities will constitute revenue for Eretz Yisrael* and will be an aid for the Jews living there, far beyond the desecration of Shabbos* by ships, since these profits will be much greater.

In all these situations, one forgets that, as Hashem states in His holy Torah*, business conducted by desecrating Shabbos* is of no use to Eretz Yisrael*. Moreover, in the expression of our Sages*, in Tractate Shabbos* 119b, "Jerusalem was destroyed only because they desecrated the Shabbos* there." Those who wish to help the Holy Land through profits obtained by desecrating Shabbos* are comparable to people who would try to extinguish a fire with kerosene or petroleum, Heaven forbid.

The darkness of exile and the confusion of minds are intense. Some consider that such people demonstrate love for their fellow (note 2: by helping Eretz Yisrael through their voyage on these ships), whereas according to the Creator of the world, Who directs it, they are destroying the Holy Land. And those who strengthen themselves in our Torah*, Torah* of life — which alone sustains, vivifies, and sanctifies Eretz Yisrael* — are reviled: why do they not want the factories to operate and the fields to be plowed on Shabbos*? Why do they prevent ships belonging to Jews from desecrating Shabbos* in public, before the eyes of all the nations?

If a Jew must observe the Torah* and the Mitzvos* in all situations, how much more so when he wishes to obtain the blessing of Hashem. You make reference to your state of health, and I am therefore certain that your journey will be undertaken in scrupulous observance of Shabbos* and not through its public desecration, Heaven forbid. Indeed, Shabbos* is considered equivalent to all the Mitzvos*. This merit will therefore procure for you a speedy and complete recovery.

With my blessing to convey good tidings,