1375 —על השראת אחרים, מסירות אמיתית, ובניית סביבה חסידית

B"H, 27 Teves, 5712.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter from the 14th of Teves, in which you write about your review of Chassidus and the farbrengen you held during these days. Thank you very much for sharing this good news. If at all times people were hungry and thirsty to receive good news—and there is nothing better than Torah and mitzvah—how much more so in our times, especially in distant places according to their spiritual state (meaning distant in spirit, since physical distance in such matters is irrelevant, though sometimes it can cause spiritual distance).

It is self-understood that this does not mean everything is being accomplished fully—unfortunately that is not the case at all. I have already told you several times that one of your main roles is as my revered father-in-law the Rebbe said: "A good teacher is not someone who simply teaches his student the material but teaches him so that he can learn on his own. And not only does he succeed with a diligent and studious student, but he is truly a teacher when he succeeds even with a lazy student or one with lesser abilities." Similarly in your case: one of your primary tasks is to make frum Jews and Chassidim... And ultimately this should spread throughout the entire area—not just be satisfied with reviewing Chassidus or getting listeners used to hearing and then donating for institutions—but to awaken within them the desire that they themselves will demand these things and similar matters. The main thing is to strive to make the environment Chassidic. For this it is essential that several more Avrechim from Anash settle there. That is why I have asked you repeatedly to try and take an interest in how it might be possible for some Avrechim from Anash whom you know well—their character and needs—to find livelihood there. Unfortunately nothing has been done about this.

Moreover, I suspect that even you view your presence and residence there as being exiled to a place of decree, expecting every day for "the hoped-for promise"—to fulfill your obligation of exile so you can be blessed to live in Brooklyn or Williamsburg. It is clear that such thoughts throughout one's work—even if they do not disturb or diminish fulfilling one's mission properly—are still not an inner approach. As my revered ancestor the Rebbe Maharash said (quoted in Toras Shalom p. 41): "They serve with kabbolas ol... but think about something else; they would already like to leave there... Even while doing [the work], they would like it finished... But truly one must be where one needs to be; only after completing the task will I be elsewhere... But as long as I am doing this task, I must be here... because this shows the truth of the matter." See there at length. How much more so regarding our situation: your current work is essential work—as our Sages greatly praised 'extracting precious from base,' etc.—and based on this principle that where one needs to be—that's where one must serve—then you would strive to bring more Avrechim from Anash so as not to be alone; now your desire is the opposite: if you remain alone perhaps eventually they will have pity on you and release you from exile...

With blessings for success in all your general and personal matters.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that true leadership means empowering others toward independence and spiritual growth while maintaining unwavering commitment to one's mission—even when circumstances are challenging or uncomfortable.