Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5980 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem*,

11 Teves* 5718,

Brooklyn,

Shalom* u'vracha*,

I am responding to your letter of 6 Teves*, with what was enclosed. You tell me about your eldest brother-in-law and what happened to him upon the purchase of his second vehicle. I do not know the customs of the circle to which he belongs, according to what you write. However, from what I have heard, it seems that, there, it is excluded for a woman to drive a car. In other circles, equally observant, a different position is adopted. Nevertheless, the Torah* rules that "in the place of Rav*, one follows the opinion of Rav*, and in the place of Shmuel*, one follows that of Shmuel*."

It follows that it is for the woman to decide whether she should make this situation public. It seems that, in this case, such publicity did take place, for the reason you give me. This publicity lent an even greater resonance to what happened, since this practice departs from the custom of the circle in which he grew up and still moves. Perhaps this is the reason for what occurred.

If this is indeed the case, he can repair what happened by publicizing the opposite, which is easy in this instance, since it corresponds to reality and she does not use the car. However, a repair also implies an addition beyond what happened, as explained by the Alter Rebbe*, in chapter 9 of the Iggeres HaTeshuvah*. It would therefore be good to devote to tzedakah* approximately one-fifth of what he paid and will still pay for this car. This tzedakah* should be specifically linked to the fear of Hashem*. May Hashem* grant you success.

With my blessing to convey good news,

P.S.: Everything is an effect of Divine Providence* and this man addresses me through your intermediary, when it is clear that my knowledge of automobiles is far more limited than my knowledge of Torah* and fear of Hashem*. Despite this, he consults me on this matter. My response will therefore also reference the Torah*, and I specify that he should, without making a vow, adopt the studies of the Chumash*, the Tehillim*, and the Tanya*, to which my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, alluded on numerous occasions. These concern everyone, regardless of the circle to which one belongs — this is self-evident. You will surely find the words to convey all of this to him, even though lengthy explanations are by no means necessary in this matter.