2993 —יום הולדת, התחזקות בלימוד, ובחירת חברים טובים

B"H, 4 MarCheshvan, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessing!

In reply to your letter of 25 Tishrei, in which you tell of your birthday and also that you are strengthening yourself in your studies, and you ask about making an effort in the well-known matter, etc.

In your letter itself you write one of the remedies, in stating that when you are in the yeshivah you hold your own, but when you come... etc. This too is further evidence of the need to exert yourself in study and in conduct befitting the yeshivah's order, to separate from undesirable friends and cleave to good friends who fear Heaven and are Chassidim. Then the promise of our Sages will be fulfilled in you: "יגעת ומצאת" ("You have toiled and found" — Megillah 6b).

In connection with your birthday, may it be G‑d's will that this be a year of success for you, in conduct with true fear of Heaven, inwardly and outwardly, and may you add strength in Torah and mitzvos, with constancy of soul and fixed times. And reflect on the beginning of chapter 17 of Tehillim, which you now begin to say from your birthday: "האזינה תפלתי בלא שפתי מרמה" ("Give ear to my prayer, from lips without deceit"; then) "מלפניך" ("from before You," specifically) "משפטי יצא" ("let my judgment go forth" — Tehillim 17:1–2) (see Bad Kodesh).

With blessing.

On behalf of the Rebbe, shlita,

Secretary