Guidance for a chassid regarding the purchase of a home

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Encouragement for efforts to improve the Jewish education of immigrant children in Eretz Yisrael

No. 646

This letter was sent to several persons over the course of a two-week period, individually addressed and dated for each one.

B"H, 21Tammuz, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

I received your letter. Thank you for the information contained therein.

May it be G-d's will that your stay — in a vacation spot together with your family — will lead to the desired benefit of [enhancing] the health of the body and strengthening it in an obvious manner, according to the adage of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m,[614] stated in the name of his father, the Rebbe [Rashab]: "How dear is a Jewish body! For it, so much Torah is poured out!"

See Rambam, Hilchos Deos, the beginning of ch. 4, "[Maintaining] a healthy and sound body is among the ways of G-d."

From this we can draw a most obvious inference to the importance of the health of the soul. If it is necessary to devote energy to this throughout the year, how much more so is it necessary to strengthen this endeavor with additional power during the time when we are occupied and showing interest in the health of the body. [This is necessary] lest one come to a situation where the strength of the body [will lead to] the weakness of the soul (Zohar I, p. 180b). See also Shabbos 147b with regard to "the waters of the Diomses."[615]

I am not [writing] merely for the sake of rhetoric, but rather to arouse an undertaking, somewhat like is'hapcha,[616] to use the days and the opportunity for restoring the health of the body for strengthening the soul, i.e., to add a fixed time for special study during this vacation period. [Also,] one should seek out opportunities to inspire others coming to vacation in your place or surroundings to Torah study, Divine service, and deeds of kindness, each person according to his own situation. Sometimes, it might be helpful to explain to them that we are not able to comprehend the secrets of the sublime providence. Perhaps the purpose they all came to this particular place was to add jewels to the crown of the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

My revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, has already promised: "One can rest assured that no effort will go unrewarded." He is a faithful person upon whom one may rely.

With wishes for a healthy summer for both body and soul; with regards to all those who seek our welfare,

M. Schneerson

   

Notes:

614. (Back to text) [See Letters No. 605 and 697.]

615. (Back to text) [The Talmud relates that bathing in these waters led to undesirable spiritual repercussions.]

616. (Back to text) [A term used frequently in Kabbalah and Chassidus, referring to the transformation of the desires of the body and the animal soul to a spiritual intent.]

Guidance for a chassid regarding the purchase of a home

Table of contents

Search this book:

Encouragement for efforts to improve the Jewish education of immigrant children in Eretz Yisrael