1197 —שליחותו הקדושה של חייל והשפעה על חברי החיילים

B"H, 16 Elul, 5711.

Brooklyn.

Haravac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Shmuel Blizinski

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I read your letter from the 5th of Elul with pleasure, in which you describe your service in the army as well as your activities there regarding strengthening Judaism and influencing your friends and surroundings in fear of Heaven. I greatly enjoyed reading the details because the greatness of this matter cannot be described in writing.

Through this, you are fulfilling an extremely important mission, whose full extent we cannot know. Considering the great value of your actions, it is fair to say that if you entered the army for this alone, it would be enough. When you fulfill your role in this regard, you will surely be able to set times for Torah study for yourself and with others with both peace of mind and body.

Enclosed here is a segment from a farbrengen talk on Shabbat Mevarchim Elul, which should be publicized appropriately among your friends and unit, as well as among friends with whom you can connect in other units. If further explanation is needed on this matter, I rely on your understanding to find suitable words for this explanation, and I am interested to hear about your positive activities in this area.

I conclude with a heartfelt request to convey my blessing to all your friends in the corps (not as you wrote in your letter—only the religious corps. For it is known the saying of my father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal: "Az a Yid nit er vil un nit er ken zayn afgerissen fun Elokus" (A Jew neither wants nor can be separated from G‑dliness). Therefore all your friends are religious; some just lack knowledge about it. But ultimately none will be cast away, and they too will know they are faithful to G‑d and His Torah. Therefore convey) to all of them my blessing for a good inscription and sealing for a good and sweet year—especially since next year is Shemittah; through everyone’s effort may it be fulfilled: 'Shabbat Shabbaton yihiyeh la’aretz Shabbat laHashem' (A complete rest shall there be for the land—a Sabbath for G‑d).

With blessings for success in influencing your friends and wishes for a good inscription and sealing for a good and sweet year to you and all around you.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that every Jew has an inseparable connection to G‑dliness. By positively influencing fellow soldiers—even those who seem distant—we fulfill a vital mission that elevates ourselves and those around us.