459 —ביאור הברכה גוט רייך פרום ומשמעותה העמוקה

B"H, 7 Adar, 5709.

vavac"h iy"a nu"m m"m b'emunah etc. Mohari"y HaKohen

Shalom u'Vrachah!

According to your telephone conversation, a check for five thousand dollars ($5,000) is enclosed as an act of gemilus chesed (kindness).

At the conclusion of your conversation last night, my father-in-law the Rebbe shlita wished you: "You should be a GRAF—an acronym for GUT RAYCH FRUM." (In Yiddish in Russia, 'graf' is an honorary title meaning roughly 'earl' in English.)

Not being certain that you understood the above words, I am copying them here. Surely you will strive to be a vessel for this blessing.

Please confirm receipt of this letter.

Signed with best wishes for all good things,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Perhaps it is possible to explain the order in the blessing: GUT—service of charity. This is the introduction and preparation for the blessing...

RAYCH—as our Sages say (Taanis 9a): "Tithe so that you may become wealthy." This applies both materially—wealth in the literal sense—and spiritually, as our Sages say (Nedarim 41a): "There is no rich person except one with knowledge," and as they said: "If he has knowledge, he has everything." This too is an introduction and preparation for the blessing...

FRUM—through wealth in knowledge one contemplates properly and comes to love and fear of Hashem, as explained at length in Tanya. Then one desires and wants to follow in the ways of Hashem as our Sages explained (Rambam Hilchos Deos ch.1 halachos 5-6): "And you shall walk in His ways; so they taught explicitly this mitzvah: just as He is called gracious so too you should be gracious," etc. And through actual material wealth one can also fulfill this desire and will in practice.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that true blessing encompasses goodness through charity, material and spiritual wealth, and piety—each preparing for the next. By striving to embody these qualities, one becomes a fitting vessel for Divine blessings both physically and spiritually.