Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9010 — General

By the grace of Hashem, Tuesday

when the word 'good' was said twice[1],

5 Menachem Av[2], eve of the 6th[3], 5725,

Brooklyn, New York,

I greet you and bless you,

I have duly received your letter[4]. We find ourselves in days concerning which the assurance has been given that they will be transformed[5] into rejoicing and joy, with the coming of our righteous Moshiach*. And, in accordance with the well-known formulation: 'though he may tarry[6], I nonetheless await his coming each day.' May Hashem bring it about that it be so, very soon and in our days.

According to what is established by various texts[7], the simple act of awaiting him[8] hastens the coming of Moshiach* and Hashem will act for one who awaits Him[9]. Indeed, it is in this way that one increases one's merit and draws closer to its consequence — the redemption as swiftly as possible[10]. And, one can complement this explanation according to the following commentary of our Sages[11]: 'one who awaits him: this expression refers to the soul that focuses its efforts on a certain aspect of wisdom and studies it with precision, seeks to clarify its meaning and, in this way, attains knowledge of the Creator.'

One must therefore invest oneself and make efforts with the aim of establishing the true meaning of concepts of wisdom, until perceiving the Creator — by strengthening oneself against the darkness, the inner penumbra of the intellect or of the emotions of the heart, or else the outer penumbra, the veil and concealment of the world — causing them to disappear, and even more so transforming them so that they in turn come to assist. In this way, the darkness will become light and Hashem will bring it about that these days be transformed into rejoicing and joy, with the coming of our righteous Moshiach*.

The twelfth principle of our religion, the coming of Moshiach*, leads to the thirteenth, that of the resurrection of the dead[12]. As a matter of fact, today is the anniversary of the passing of the Ari Zal*, who still lives[13]. Thus, the promise will be fulfilled whereby all these bones will come alive — those of the entire house of Israel. Indeed, 'Hashem will place His spirit within them and they will live.' Then, the oath will be realized which says: 'Your dead will come to life'[14], 'they will awaken and rejoice, those who rest beneath the earth'[15], 'a great assembly will return there, thus speaks the Eternal, Rejoice Yaakov in joy and I will transform their mourning into rejoicing, Word of the Eternal'[16]. With my regards and my blessing,

M. Schneerson,