Igrot Kodesh · Letter 734 — Health

By the grace of Hashem,
16 Elul 5710,

To the Rav, distinguished Chassid*, who fears Hashem, ...

Greetings and blessings,

I reply to your letter, which was not dated, in which you announce to me that a doctor recommends the hospitalization of your wife, for a few days, in order to carry out tests. Now, for various reasons, otherwise without foundation, your wife is afraid of the hospital.

You must explain this to her, in terms that she will be able to understand, in her present state of mind:

Hashem created the world and directs it. This is true as much for the lower hemisphere [1], where we are, as for the upper hemisphere [2], where you are. He directs by His Word, ordains what must be. Nothing in the world could be done without His intervention, and Hashem accomplishes all that He desires. Nonetheless, He wishes that we forge a receptacle by having recourse to the laws of nature — that is, by acting in a natural way.

When a Jew, man or woman, does not feel well, he must consult a doctor. This does not mean that the latter will be able to do as he sees fit, but that Hashem has chosen him as an emissary to fulfill the mission that He entrusts to him.

When one places one's bitachon* in Hashem and sets aside doubts, when one becomes conscious that He directs the world, one can observe all this with one's eyes of flesh, at every step, perceive that Hashem takes us by the hand and leads us in the best way, material and spiritual at once.

If she is hospitalized according to the doctor's opinion, she nonetheless remains under the authority of Hashem, Who will protect her, assure that all goes in the best way for her, that she obtain physical and moral health.

She must only strengthen her faith and her bitachon in Hashem, be convinced that the blessing of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, will be realized. For he has blessed her, blesses her, and will yet bless her, that she be cured and may very quickly give good news, announce that she feels well.

She no doubt gives Tzedakah* into a charity box dedicated to Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess, on the eve of Shabbos and the festivals, before lighting the candles, and you surely read the Psalm of the Rebbe, which is currently Psalm 71. You will do so at least until 10 Shevat 5711, of course without making it a vow [3].

With my blessing that you be inscribed and sealed for a good year and awaiting your good news,

Menachem Schneerson

Notes:
[1] The American continent, if one takes Jerusalem as the highest point of the globe.
[2] Europe.
[3] See Letter 644.