Not to be discouraged when it appears that one's efforts with others are apparently having only minimal effects

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Guidance for a chassid regarding the purchase of a home

No. 644

The name of the person to whom this letter was sent was not released.

B"H, 20Tammuz, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

I was happy to meet you after such a long interval. I enjoyed the meeting for several reasons:

1. I met you amidst the chassidic community;

2. it was on [Yud-Beis Tammuz,] the birthday of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, and the day of his redemption which is a Festival of Redemption for all of us.[608]

An [additional source of pleasure] was that I met you at the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, where spiritual influences of the highest levels rest. I also derived satisfaction from the fact that you led kohanim from the chassidic communityto the gravesite.[609] The fact that you were able to bring merit to others certainly indicates that your own merit is great. Your bond to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, is the channel through which blessing and success will flow.

I hope that [even] one day does not pass on which you do not have fixed times for the study of the teachings of Nigleh and Chassidus. As I understand, you should make a resolution — without confirming it with a vow — at least until the first yahrzeit, Yud Shvat 5711 – to recite kapitle 71 [610] in Tehillim and additionally, on every Shabbos and yom tov, to study a concept from the teachings of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, from his maamarim, kuntreisim, or sichos.

"As water reflects a face,"[611] the appropriate bonding on your part to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, will draw down an abundance of blessings to you, [enabling] you to succeed in both material and spiritual matters.

Please convey greetings from me to your brother at the appropriate opportunity.

Wishing you all forms of good,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Enclosed is the kuntres which was published for the birthday of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m.[612] Under separate cover, we will be sending you the book of [his] sichos and the book of [his] maamarim.

   

Notes:

608. (Back to text) [See Letter No. 637, et al.]

609. (Back to text) [A partition is made around the kohanim separating them from the graves. See Shaaris Yehudah, Hosafos, secs. 14 and 35, where the custom of kohanim visiting the graves of tzaddikim is discussed. See also the Rebbe's Igros Kodesh, Vol. VI, Letter No. 1852, et al.]

610. (Back to text) [The kapitle corresponding to the years of the life of the Rebbe Rayatz at that time. It is a custom among chassidim to recite the psalm that corresponds to one's age: e.g., one who is 13 years old recites Psalm 14, and also the psalm that corresponds to the age of the Rebbe (Sefer HaMinhagim, p. 17).]

611. (Back to text) [Mishlei 27:19; i.e., there is an interactive relationship between our devotion to the Rebbe and the influence he grants us. See HaYom Yom, entry for 14 Shvat.]

612. (Back to text) [I.e., Yud-Beis Tammuz.]

Not to be discouraged when it appears that one's efforts with others are apparently having only minimal effects

Table of contents

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Guidance for a chassid regarding the purchase of a home