1572 —הגבלות הצדקה, הרחבת ההשפעה, וקיום שליחות הרבי

B"H, 23 Iyar, 5712. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

...He includes in his letter what he sets aside every week; surely he knows the enactment of Usha that "he who distributes should not distribute more," etc. And even though it is explained in Iggeres HaKodesh regarding charity that our times are different, as explained there at length, nevertheless even here there must be some limitation. It is difficult for me to write more specifically about this since I do not know the basis of his practice. In general, charity is a good thing and nothing surpasses it, and its material benefit is literal. But still, one should again consider (arientrachten) the sums he sends each week...

I have already conveyed through R. M.C.H. that the point in everything I speak with him about each time he is here is to effect an expansion of his vessels—that he should view himself not as a recipient or helper for someone else... but rather as a representative and emissary of my revered father-in-law the Rebbe, there. Therefore, he must fulfill his mission and has been given the abilities for this. It is clear that my revered father-in-law's intent was to transform ... into a chassidic city—obviously gradually—and as with all matters of holiness as it is written: 'Le'at Le'at Agarsheinu Mipanecha' ("Little by little I will drive them out from before you").

The result is that when he encounters acquaintances—bekanntschaft—through someone or through some intermediary matter, he should see both the person and the intermediary matter only as means so that his circle of acquaintances will grow; thus he can use this to extend his influence to another group of people and thereby impact yet another group in supporting Judaism and ultimately in spreading Chassidus and its customs.

Therefore I am not very satisfied that after there was an opportunity for him to become acquainted with ... and also that his influence grew..., nevertheless he waits for explicit instruction etc., and if one does not use opportunities presented to him, ultimately they are lost—as our Sages said: 'The Holy One did not create anything in His world for nothing.' There is no need to elaborate on this since it has been told to him many times that he has been given the power and ability; a broad field for work exists—the only thing lacking is willpower. He should internalize that he must carry out the will of my revered father-in-law... and not look at or be deterred by all obstacles and concealments which are almost all imaginary; ninety-nine percent of opposition's strength is only because people fear them.

With blessings for receiving the Torah with joy and inwardness from true expansiveness.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that while charity is paramount, practical limits are necessary. More importantly, one must embrace their role as an empowered emissary—taking initiative to expand their positive influence without waiting for explicit instructions or being deterred by imagined obstacles.