Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7609 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

25 Adar* 5721,

Brooklyn, New York,

To all the participants in the youth gathering of the Chabad* association of the Mid West, from the eve of Rosh Chodesh* Nissan* to the 2nd of Nissan*, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

Two fundamental concepts (note 1: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Hayom Yom*, at the date of 28 Cheshvan* 5704 and 9 Iyar* 5703") of the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov*, broadly defined by Chabad* Chassidus*, are, on one hand, the fact that every detail, every event in the life of a man is an effect of Divine Providence*, and on the other hand, the possibility of deriving from everything a lesson for the service of Hashem. How much more is this the case for an event as important as a youth gathering of the Chabad* association of the Mid West, occurring during the Hilula* of the Rebbe Rashab* (note 2: The 2nd of Nissan*), father of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, as well as the eve and the very day of Rosh Chodesh*. I would therefore like to remind all its participants of the sacred words of the one whose Hilula* we celebrate. Indeed, the words of the leaders of Israel, in particular when they are spoken publicly and then subsequently published, exert an immutable effect, have an impact and an influence. In this case, he said:

"All the peoples of the world must know this (note 3: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Kuntres Maamarim, pamphlet no. 14, of 5691, in Riga"): Only our bodies are subject to exile and to the subjugation of the nations. Our souls, on the other hand, have not been led into exile; they are not victims of this subjugation. We must affirm clearly, for all to see, that regarding our religion, the Torah*, the Mitzvos*, and Jewish customs, we Jews have counsel to receive from no one."

The one whose Hilula* we celebrate himself put this conception of life into practice and applied it daily, under the Tsarist regime, which was known for its hostile measures and its persecution of Jews, as well as during the years of the Communist regime, with its anti-religious views in general and anti-Jewish views in particular. Such is also the profound content of Nissan*, the month of redemption (note 4: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "According to Midrash Rabbah, Parshas* Bo, chapter 15, paragraph 11"). By the fact that the children of Israel, during the exile of Egypt — the first exile that introduced all the subsequent ones (note 5: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "According to Midrash Bereishis* Rabbah, chapter 16, paragraph 4") — did not adopt the customs of that country but, on the contrary, distinguished themselves there (note 6: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "According to the Haggadah*, and see the commentary Zevach Pesach, the Mechilta at Parshas* Bo on verse 12:6, the Lekach Tov on verse Shemos* 6:6. Also consult, in particular, the verse Tzefaniah 1:8, the Yalkut at Parshas* Balak, paragraph 768, the Rambam*, Laws of Idolatry, chapter 11, paragraph 1, the Sefer Mitzvos Gadol, Prohibition no. 50, the Responsa of the Tzemach Tzedek*, Yoreh Deah, chapter 91 and in the chapter of addenda"), knew how to preserve their autonomy, their difference, and their specific character, they obtained the redemption and departed from Egypt.

How much more, when one finds oneself in a country of calm and religious freedom, must our objective and also our merit be to strengthen and develop true Judaism — the Torah*, the Mitzvos*, and Jewish customs — to illuminate and vivify, in conformity with the teachings of Chabad* Chassidus*. All of this depends only on our will, for "you can" once "you want" (note 7: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "And one knows, regarding this, the story of the Baal Shem Tov* and his disciples").

May Hashem grant that this gathering achieve its objective, in a concrete and complete manner, in conformity with the profound purpose and the Injunction that was clearly stated by our holy masters and leaders. Their merit and that of the greatest number will surely protect each person, so as to obtain considerable success in communal accomplishments and therefore also in personal realizations, both materially and spiritually. With my blessing of success and to give good tidings,

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By the grace of Hashem,

25 Adar* 5721,

Brooklyn,

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, devotes himself to communal needs, carries out a sacred mission (note 8: Teaching based on sacred values), the Rav Shmuel (note 9: Rav S. Hefer. See, regarding him, letter no. 7587),

I greet you and bless you,

You write to me that you are not being helped. First of all, in each of those who carry out the mission of Hashem — education based on sacred values, especially in a structure belonging to our masters and leaders — there are concretely fulfilled the terms of the verse: "My help comes from Hashem, Who makes the heavens and the earth," in which the verb "make" can also have a connotation of compulsion. Thus, Hashem "compels" nature to undergo the veils and concealments, then these are transformed so that, in turn, they come to one's aid, as was the case on Purim*, which has just passed, when "many nations of the earth became Jewish... and it was reversed." You yourself observed all of this in the recent past. It is therefore, without doubt, unnecessary to develop a lengthy explanation and to cite proofs for what is self-evident. Regarding what you say at the end of your letter, concerning you personally, the help will also "come" from Hashem and it will exert its effect upon you.

We are at the conclusion of the month of Adar*, when we are enjoined to increase our joy. Furthermore, we find ourselves on the eve of Nissan*, the month of liberation from everything that obstructs and disturbs. May Hashem grant that this be recognizable in your sacred mission, within the Beis Rivkah*, the seminary (note 10: For young women) and the vocational school (note 11: These three institutions are directed by Rav Hefer). You will give me good tidings thereof, of a good that one can perceive with one's eyes of flesh, so that it will be possible to adopt conduct in conformity with the verse: "I will walk in expansiveness" — in everything that concerns this institution, and in affluence also for your personal concerns. This is also the answer regarding the inclination to which you allude at the end of your letter. Indeed, I heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, a story (note 12: See, on this subject, letter no. 2562) concerning a Chassid* of the Alter Rebbe*, Rav Mordechai Liepler, who would overcome his evil inclination by advancing the following argument: How could he accept its advances, when everyone knew him as a wealthy man, having contacts with the nobility, in the royal palace of a dynasty as prestigious as that of Russia at the time, when he was, above all, a Chassid* of the Alter Rebbe*?

ז'תרט*

ב"ה, כ"ה אדר, תשכ"א
ברוקלין.
הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ מלאכתו

מלאכת שמים

מו"ה שמואל שי'

שלום וברכה!

... בהנוגע לכתבו שאינו מקבל עזר וכו', הנה, לכל לראש בודאי שבכל כאו"א מהעובדים במלאכת ה' חינוך על טהרת הקדש ובפרט במסגרת רבותינו נשיאינו, מתקיים בפועל מ"ש עזרי מעם ה' עושה שמים וארץ [שיש לפרש בזה, עושה מלשון עשי' וכפי', אשר כופה ומשדד ה' העלמות והסתרים שבטבע, ועד לאופן שנתהפכים למסייעים, וכענין ימי הפורים דאזלינן מנייהו שעמי הארץ מתיהדים וגו' ונהפוך הוא וגו'. ובודאי לדכוותי' שראה זה במוחש בעבר הקרוב, אין צורך לאריכות ולהביא ראיות לדבר הפשוט].

תקותי שמ"ש בחותם מכתבו, בהנוגע לעצמו - הנה מתאים להכתוב לעיל - "הגיע" העזר מן ה' גם בו ופועל פעולתו.

ויהי רצון שבעמדנו בסיום וחותם חדש אדר, דנצטוינו להרבות בשמחה, וערב חדש ניסן, חדש הגאולה מכל המצרים וגבולים, הנה יראה זה גם בעבודתו בקדש, בב"ר בהסמינר ולמקצוע, ויבשר טוב - טוב באופן הנראה גם לעיני בשר ועד שיוכל להתנהג מתאים למ"ש ואתהלכה ברחבה - בכל עניני המוסד ומתוך הרחבה גם בעניניו הפרטים,

ובזה מענה נוסף גם על סיומו במכתבו בהנוגע להזזה וכו' - וע"ד סיפור ששמעתי מכ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר אודות חסידו של רבנו הזקן ר' מרדכי ליפלער, שהי' מנצח את היצר בטענה, שאיך אפשרי שישמע לפיתויו והכל יודעים שהוא עשיר ויש לו מהלכים בבית המלכים, בבית המלוכה אדירה כרוסיא בימים ההם, ולכל לראש - שהנהו חסידו של רבנו הזקן...

ז'תרט*
מו"ה שמואל שי': חפר. אגרות נוספות אליו - לעיל ז'תקפז, ובהנסמן בהערות שם.

בב"ר: בבית רבקה.

סיפור ששמעתי: ראה גם לעיל ח"ח אגרת ב'תקסב.