406 —עידוד בזמנים קשים ומשל שרשרת האטום

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I confirm receipt of your letter. I express thanks, in the name of Meleches HaChinuch and myself, for your appreciation of Meleches HaChinuch’s work with such lofty descriptions as in your letter, which encourages and strengthens the spirit. This strengthening is especially necessary recently, as obstacles and delays to work according to Meleches HaChinuch’s plan are increasing, supporters are weakening and decreasing, while the work plan itself keeps expanding from month to month and week to week. There is no way to reduce it except at the expense (spiritually and thus physically) of those helped by Meleches HaChinuch—a responsibility that cannot be taken upon oneself.

Continuing your analogy in your letter about atomic explosions and the tremendous energy released thereby: Surely you know that regarding this topic, some of the main questions faced by scientists—on whose solutions depended all success—were: 1) The chain process: that in desired matters it should be possible for the first split atoms caused by the machine to split other atoms, which then split even more atoms—so that the energy increases ever more. 2) In undesired matters it should be arranged so that the number of split atoms continually decreases. 3) That the expenses (in energy and money) for splitting atoms should be small compared to the energy gained from the explosion. Since the purpose of all these experiments and work in this field was not just theoretical but to utilize them in life, making life purer and more beautiful thereby. The lesson surely needs no explanation for you.

Again I wish you and your family a chag sameach and may it be that in the coming year both your ability and desire will grow to use your strengths along the path set out for all Israel since they stood at Sinai—the path of Torah and mitzvos, especially in education—and may you merit the blessing given by my revered father-in-law, Admor.

Summary

The Rebbe encourages perseverance amid difficulties, using an atomic chain reaction as a metaphor for positive influence multiplying through continued effort—reminding us to use our strengths for communal good along the path of Torah and mitzvos.