587 —הבהרת כוונות והדרכה על פרנסה רוחנית וגשמית

B"H, 25 Nissan, 5710.

The Avrech, vavac"h iy"a nu"m etc. Shmarya Matusof

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter from the 9th of Nissan and have not yet replied due to the festival and related matters.

First, I wish to write that there is no issue here of resentment, G‑d forbid, nor of merit or liability in absentia or similar matters you mention in your letter—especially since I do not know you personally. What I wrote to Haraha"ch etc. Reb Binyamin Gorodetzky—I wrote only as a question because I did not understand the matter.

Second, it never occurred to me to demand that you endanger yourself, etc., and in general there is no issue here of compulsion or coercion at all.

The point is that regarding material matters our Sages said (Pesachim 54b; see also Iggeres HaKodesh ch. 22) "Ein adam yode'a bameh mishtaker" (a person does not know by what he will earn a living), and it follows that this applies also to spiritual livelihood, for one depends on the other—especially in recent times when there is no order or hierarchy in conduct and refinement (see introduction to Kuntres U'Maayan p.22 for more on this). We must strive to correctly understand what happens to us and learn from it what we should do now, tomorrow, and later—and pray that we are guided toward truth.

What was told to me about what happened with you this past winter—and you added more about this in your current letter—is as follows: My revered father-in-law the Rebbe hk"m wrote you to remain for now in Europe... In Kislev you asked again whether to travel to Eretz Yisrael but received no answer on this, even though your letters were received. Meanwhile, you traveled to Marseilles and succeeded there spiritually beyond the natural order; surely you will also arrange the material conditions there appropriately... And after all this, when I learned that you are convinced your good lies specifically in traveling to Eretz Yisrael, I was surprised at how you interpret your own experiences.

It is obvious that wherever you are, you must arrange things so that you are healthy and strong and under conditions suitable for your health—but I do not see how this question relates to Marseilles versus Eretz Yisrael; on the contrary.

May it be G‑d's will that you decide and settle in the way most fitting for you with G‑d's help. Please share good news about what happens with you and what you do for others.

With blessings for success and good settlement especially.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches us not to assume we know where our true success lies—materially or spiritually—but rather to observe our circumstances carefully, act wisely for our wellbeing, seek guidance from Above, and share positive outcomes with others.