Igrot Kodesh · Letter 735 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,
16 Elul 5710,

To Madame ...,

I bless and greet you,

I have received your letter of 27 Menachem Av, in which you tell me of your situation and complain that it is not good, that you are not sufficiently pious.

Chassidus* explains the meaning of the month of Elul, and a discourse of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, specifies, moreover, that Hashem is then like a King who would go out into the field, where all may go to meet him. He welcomes each one there with kindness and with a smile, whatever the situation of the man or woman who goes toward Him.

It follows that Elul, the last month of the year, is consecrated to the accounting of the year that has just elapsed. And when a person reflects on what has been his behavior during this period, he must not be frightened.

One will say to him: "Know therefore that, even if you are in the field, although it cannot yet be established whether you are worthy of penetrating into a place where important personalities reside, the King, King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, is nonetheless in the field to meet you there. There, you can address yourself directly to Him, formulate your request to Him. He will welcome you with kindness, smiling. You must not therefore be frightened.

"Certainly, you have established the accounting of your thoughts, your words, and your actions. And it is not good. But you address yourself to the Father who is filled with mercy. It suffices therefore that you take a good resolution to accomplish, henceforth, what Hashem expects of you. It is then certain that you will be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year, physically and morally."

More still, you must be conscious of being a mother, who has led children on the straight path, that of Torah and of Chassidus, which is one of the most considerable merits a woman can acquire. This will help you to free yourself from a situation that is not what it should be, will lead you on the straight path to obtain material and spiritual good.

We must all know that we have had and still have now the merit of having a great Rebbe, my father-in-law, who has asked, begged — and still does so now — that the Jews, in general, and those bound to him, in particular, receive blessing and success.

The Rebbe knew, and still knows now, what are the weaknesses of every man and woman belonging to the community of the Chassidim*. Despite this, he prayed for them, and still does so, that all their needs be satisfied — children, health, and material prosperity — that Hashem pardon all their faults, taking into account the situation that is theirs and the trials with which they are confronted, at the instigation of their yetzer hara*.

We must therefore all take the firm decision that, beginning from now, we will be better. It is in this way that we will obtain blessing and success, that we may all merit — that is, you also, with the members of your family — a good and sweet year. The wishes of the heart of each one will be granted in the best way, that one may be pious and that, in consequence, all go well, materially and spiritually.

I will mention, in an opportune moment, at the gravesite of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, the names that figure in your letter, so that they be blessed, inscribed and sealed for a good year.

I wish you, as well as all yours, a good and sweet year. You will surely be able to give me good news of yourself and of all yours.

Menachem Schneerson