Igrot Kodesh · Letter 995 — Health

By the grace of Hashem,
1 Iyar 5711,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the distinguished chassid* who has yiras Shamayim* and acquits himself faithfully of his task, Rav Y. HaKohen[1],

Greetings and blessings,

Following our telephone conversation, I enclose a copy of my letter to Mr. Yosef Robinson[2], as well as the twenty checks drawn up by Mr. Simon and Mr. Kaplan, which follow one another by their staggering in time. They are written so as to be cashed two days after those of Robinson, starting from the sixth check, as you asked, since, in your own terms, tzedakah* is the priority.

In this connection, I would like to recall to you what the Alter Rebbe* says in Iggeres HaKodesh*, chapter 21. As precious as a mitzvah* may be, the zerizus* with which it is performed remains decisive. The Alter Rebbe* underscores this idea particularly in the matter of tzedakah*. Here are his words: "The zerizus* of our father Avraham protects us, as well as our children, for eternity." Then he specifies: "The act of tzedakah* is the most important, being positive in this domain too. It must therefore be given priority, to the full extent possible."

I would like to conclude by expressing the wish that the terms of the Gemara* should be accomplished, according to which "You shall surely tithe: tithe so that you become rich"[3]. And the one who leads others to action surpasses the one who acts personally. The one who introduces his own effort so that the money of others should reach a tzedakah* fund has precedence over the one who gives of his own money.

Your participation in the work of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, in North Africa, will be the channel conveying visible and tangible good, and good health, for you, for your wife, and for all the members of your family. You will know great success in your affairs, material and spiritual. And, since one rises in matters of kedushah*, you will also have the merit of intensifying your participation in the accomplishments of my father-in-law, the Rebbe. It will develop more and more.

I hope to receive your good news at every moment, and I extend to you a great blessing, material and spiritual,

Notes
[1] Rav Yaakov Katz of Chicago. See letter no. 822 regarding him.
[2] See letters no. 947, 1116, and also letters no. 930, 945, 970, addressed to Rav Katz.
[3] The verse contains, in fact, a repetition that the Gemara* interprets by noting that Aser, tithe, has the same etymology as Ashir, rich.