Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8486 — Chinuch

By the grace of Hashem,

2 Menachem* Av* 5722,

Brooklyn,

To the directors of the association Tikvas Chaim* (note 1: The Hope of Life),

in the holy city of Yerushalayim*, may it be

restored and rebuilt, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

I have duly received your letter of 21 Tammuz*, with what was enclosed. You inform me of your program destined to help those who are in need and to encourage them. Without doubt, the profound idea behind all of this is to strengthen traditional Judaism among the immigrants in our Holy Land, may it be restored and rebuilt, to disseminate it and to elevate it. Indeed, these people settle in a land "toward which always are turned the eyes of Hashem, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year." May Hashem therefore cause these activities to be fruitful, that you succeed in doing good to the children of Israel, materially and spiritually, these two dimensions being connected. Indeed, "Israel is a unique nation on the earth," which means, according to the interpretation of the Admur HaZaken* (note 2: See, on this subject, letter no. 8414), author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, that the Jews make the Unity evident, including in the domains concerning the earth.

In fact, such action is necessary, in particular in this period, "between the afflictions" (note 3: Between two fasts connected to the destruction of the Temple, 17 Tammuz* and 9 Av*), when the repair must be commensurate with the lack occasioned, so that hatred without justification is replaced by love without justification. Furthermore, as Chassidus* emphasizes, since the Baal Shem Tov*, the Admur HaZaken* and their successors, love of one's fellow is indeed a fundamental value. With my respects and my blessing,

N. B.: In conformity with the verse: "I am the companion of all those who fear You," I enclose a personal check, as a symbolic participation.