Blessings for health

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Blessings to a young man on his birthday

No. 595

The name of the recipient of this letter was not released.

B"H, 8 Iyar, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

I found out, incidentally, that your emotions have become very volatile recently [and] that you are irritable.... Certainly, you heard from my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, and learned from his talks, maamarim, and letters, that there is nothing accidental in the world, but on the contrary, everything is controlled by Divine providence. On our part, we must try to align our deeds with the intent of the His providence. Who am I [to say that I] know the intent of His providence? Nevertheless, since I heard about the above, and it is possible for me to help — at least to a certain extent — I am therefore writing this letter.

The reason for your emotional volatility was not told to me, but it is likely to be your dissatisfaction with your present situation. The G-dly soul is not happy with your spiritual circumstances and the animal soul is not happy with your material situation. Therefore [you let] your body and your nerves just have their way.

It is difficult for me to give a particular answer to your assertions regarding your appraisal of your situation, because I have not heard those assertions from you directly.

I will therefore offer only a general answer according to my understanding of your situation. Since you have a greater vested interest in the matter than I do, according to Torah law, my testimony [and conception of the matter] is more trustworthy.[382]

[My perspective] is that my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, established you in the path of light, i.e., Torah.[383] Moreover, he did not remain content with this, and also granted you a portion in "the light of the Torah," i.e., that you and the teachers under your direction are chassidim who study the teachings of Chassidus, whether profusely, in an average way, or at least to a limited extent. And you are able to instill the fear of Heaven into your students, which is the purpose of the Torah and its mitzvos.

This was not enough. From early on, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, led you by the hand and directed you in all your affairs. You built a home on the basis of the Torah and its mitzvos. Thank G-d, you always had [the means to provide] for your sustenance and the sustenance of the members of your household and you have that now as well. And you have received blessings from my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, that this situation will continue in the future, and furthermore, that you will be able to give tzedakah generously.

[In brief,] this describes your spiritual and material situation. After all that, why are you so disturbed? That [although certain] things are granted you in hand, in addition, you have to work?! That this entails heartache?! That you must deal with simple people?!

The Rebbe's time and energy were certainly precious. He certainly had the right to demand more [from Above] than others and, nevertheless, he went through all [sorts of challenges] and [endured them] over and above [the norm].

Who then can come along and indulge himself and claim, "I don't want to do that!" (which inevitably leads to the assumption) "I can't do that," and [as a result, to the conclusion:] "I'm walking away. I'm all upset"?!

Is this the right approach, Reb ....?

With good wishes for your wife and to all the members of your household, for blessing for all types of good.

Enclosed is a pamphlet that was recently published.

   

Notes:

382. (Back to text) [The Rebbe is referring to the law (Rambam, Hilchos Edus, ch. 15) that whenever a person has a vested interest in the outcome of a case, he is unacceptable as a witness. He is implying that the motivating rationale for the law is that his vested interest prevents the person from seeing the matter objectively.]

383. (Back to text) [See Megillah 16b.]

Blessings for health

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Blessings to a young man on his birthday