337 —על מילוי החובה למרות חוסר חיות ומעורבות אחרים

B"H, 21 Adar Rishon, 5708.

Vavac"h iy"a nu"m etc.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from Yud Lamed Chodesh Zayin. A) Regarding the work at..., you write four reasons for not working there, despite the letter from my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita: elder chassidim told you that it depends on their will; you lack vitality in it; the work is no longer so necessary because it is not developing; others are also not involved in this matter. You ask my opinion about this.

I have just seen a copy of my revered father-in-law's letter to them... and I see no room for doubt as to what work he assigned them and blessed them to succeed in it.

As for your lack of vitality in this, it is well known what is written in many places in Chassidus that 'command' (tzivui) and 'mitzvah' mean connection and attachment (tzavta v'hiskashrus), that one becomes connected through fulfilling the commandment. When an individual soul can connect to its general soul through this, there is no greater drawing of vitality than this. Even if at present this is not felt in one's animal soul powers, this does not change the matter. See the discourse "Ki Menasseh" 63.

Regarding your point that the work is not developing and others are also not involved—this itself is what we are discussing: when some members of the committee (and generally anyone who can help) refrain or are negligent in their duties, this causes a delay in developing proper education based on Torah and mitzvos and also weakens others. Especially if you consider yourself part of Machaneh HaTemimim (the camp of Temimim), whose actions are like candles to illuminate—if your candle is not burning at present, you thereby prevent the lighting of several other candles you could have lit during this time. See Kuntres HaAvodah end of page 43, Kuntres U'Maayan page 22, etc., and more could be said but this suffices for now.

With wishes for all good.

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that even when one lacks enthusiasm or sees little support from others, fulfilling one's duty connects a person deeply to their source of vitality. Personal commitment inspires broader impact—one's actions can ignite many others.