1055 —ברכה לאריכות ימים מלאים משמעות ומשל על טהרת הנשמה

B"H, 15 Sivan, 5711.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haravac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Yaakov Perl

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In connection with your visit to me, I wish once again to express my blessing that you and your wife should be granted long and good years. True good long years for a Jew means filling them with tranquility of soul and body and with good deeds; that is, when one fills the days and years with actions connected to Torah and mitzvos, which express in actual deeds the three loves: love of Hashem, love of Torah, and love of Israel. Such a life brings success and blessing both in one's own home and in the homes of children and grandchildren.

As I told you verbally, my father-in-law the Rebbe zatzal often conveyed a teaching from the Baal Shem Tov: from everything a Jew sees or hears he must learn a moral lesson in how to serve the Creator. Naturally, one must also learn from daily occupations. Clothing or garments—before putting them on—are completely clean and well-pressed and everything is in its proper place. But after wearing them for some time they become wrinkled or dusty or stained. Nevertheless, such clothing should not be thrown away; rather it is sent to a laundry or cleaning service. The launderer puts it into a vessel or machine where there is warm or hot temperature—hot water—and various chemicals or soap that remove all dust and stains; afterwards it is pressed by applying weight or pressure so that it can be worn again.

The same applies to a Jewish soul. When Hashem gives a Jew his soul—whether man or woman—it is pure, pressed out and fitted for each person as we say every day in Birkos HaShachar: 'Neshama sheNata bi Tehorah hi' (the soul You have placed within me is pure). Over time though—as one uses it also for worldly matters—the soul becomes wrinkled when not used as Hashem wishes; sometimes dust or stains adhere when one fails to do a mitzvah that should be done or G‑d forbid transgresses something forbidden.

Nevertheless, Torah teaches us never to lose hope for the purity of the soul nor its suitability for Jewish life. Rather one must bring it into warmth—that is, warm it up with the warmth of Torah and mitzvos so it becomes lively within this warmth. The warmth should be moist so it has attachment to all holy things; this is achieved through heartfelt davening about which it says: 'Shifchi kaMayim libeich' (Pour out your heart like water), meaning pour out your heart as water; also through heartfelt learning as it says: 'Hoy kol tzame lechu laMayim' (All who are thirsty go to water)—and 'water' means Torah.

Additionally one must mix in various things: giving tzedakah (charity), keeping kashrus (kosher laws), and other mitzvos—through which the soul becomes completely pure again. And if one places upon it the burden of Torah—even if it seems like a load—not only does this not harm but rather presses out every part into its proper form and shape; thus through Torah and mitzvos the soul becomes what it needs to be.

I conclude with my wish for long good years to you and your wife—you should have much Jewish nachas from all your children.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that just as clothing needs regular cleansing to remain fit for use, so too does one's soul require ongoing purification through Torah study, mitzvos, heartfelt prayer, charity, and observance—ensuring lasting spiritual vitality and blessing.