Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7602 — Faith & Bitachon
Volume 20 · Letter 157 · To: distingué ‘Hassid qui craint D.ieu et se consacre aux
By the grace of Hashem,
18 Adar* 5721,
Brooklyn,
To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, the Rav Matisyahu (note 1: Rav M. Slavin, of Brooklyn),
I greet you and bless you,
I learned with pleasure that you are striving to maintain the prayers at the synagogue three times a day and, more generally, to strengthen everything that concerns it in various domains. Furthermore, I felt particular joy upon learning that preparations are being made to install a platform in its center (note 2: See, on this subject, letter no. 5793), in the manner in which it was done on the old continent (note 3: In Europe) for many generations already. As various texts of our sacred books explain, it is particularly important that this platform be in the center of the synagogue.
In every place and in every domain, a Jew must do what is in his power to fully conform to the Will of Hashem, Creator of the world, in the best manner possible. How much more is this the case, in the broadest manner, when it concerns a synagogue, which Hashem calls: "The place in which My Name is mentioned." Jews go there in order to pray to Hashem, for themselves, for all their close ones, for their friends, according to their needs. And one wishes that Hashem hear the prayer and grant the request. One must therefore ensure that the path on which one embarks conforms to the Will of the One to Whom one presents this request, that one acts in the best manner possible in order to find favor and grace before the One Who can grant the request.
May Hashem grant that it be so with great success, in joy and enthusiasm, all the more so since we are in the month of Adar*, during which, as our Sages* emphasize, "one increases one's joy." Now, an Injunction of the Torah* is also a force, a means granted to put it into practice. I send you my blessing to give good tidings of all this. You will convey my greetings to all those who take care of this synagogue, and they will do so in an even more increased manner, so that it may fully merit its title of "small Sanctuary." With my respects,