2838 —השתדלות בעבודה ולא להסתמך על ברכות מלמעלה

B"H, 29 Tammuz, 5714.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavacha"ch iy"a nu"n etc. Shalom Shulman

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 28th of Tammuz, in which you raise the saying of the tzt"z (brought in Hayom Yom for the 24th of Tammuz): "A pnimi is one who, when asking for a blessing regarding avodah, this is 'do not trust in empty words,' and it should be 'let the work be made heavier upon the men.'" The precise wording is important: a blessing for avodah, etc.

The meaning of this precise wording—blessing for avodah—is understood based on what is explained in many places in Chassidus, including Tanya chapter 15: what is called an oved (as opposed to a tzaddik or someone for whom it has become habitual and natural) is specifically one who fights with his nature and inclination, etc. Also see Torah Or beginning of Mishpatim regarding the explanation of avodah as related to worked hides (and it can be said humorously and as a hint that tanning hides involves dog excrement, etc.). From this it is understood that someone who still needs to work and asks for a blessing—since a blessing means drawing down from above (as is known that it comes from the word "hamavrich," bringing down from above to below)—this is the opposite of avodah, which is meant to go from below upward, through people.

As you requested, I will mention all those you wrote about at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal, for all their needs both materially and spiritually.

With a blessing that may Hashem soon transform these days into joy and gladness with the complete and true redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that spiritual growth comes through personal effort rather than relying on blessings from above; true avodah means working through challenges and transforming oneself from within.