3013 —איזון בריאות, צדקה, ושירות בשמחה במוסדות תורה

B"H, 11 MarCheshvan, 5715. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to receive your letter from the 7th of Cheshvan, and I am even pleased by the fact that you complain that you are being asked to work for several institutions. If only all Jews would have such dissatisfaction—one connected to institutions of education on the purity of holiness, to charity in general, and especially to proper education! Certainly one must follow the doctor's instructions to be careful with one's health—this is also the instruction of our holy Torah: 'uNishmartem Me'od l'nafshoteichem' (and you shall greatly guard your souls). But when Hashem wrote this into the Torah, He simultaneously wrote the necessity to do acts of charity and kindness. Surely it is possible to do both—and not only will it not harm you, but on the contrary: the pleasure one feels from doing a good deed actually strengthens and improves even one's physical health. The same applies to you: certainly if you do not speak loudly people will still hear what you say; surely you will also find time to work for these institutions and matters which are on the purity of holiness. As I have told you many times in our conversations, you must be joyful—as it is written: 'Ivdu et Hashem b'simchah davka' (Serve Hashem with joy specifically). And since Hashem demands this from every Jew, He—blessed be He—gives the strength to fulfill His demand.

With satisfaction and joy I have forwarded the draft you sent according to our discussions here. As you said—bli neder—at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal (may his merit protect us), I hope that by the time you receive this letter you have already received an acceptance for this from the central office of Yeshivot Tomchei Temimim along with an appropriate accompanying letter. May Hashem help you so that from now on you can fulfill all your heart's desires for good—for even a Jew who is as good as can be still has opportunities to become even better. May Hashem help you in this as well.

As is well known—the story about my father-in-law, the Rebbe, who told about his father (the Rebbe zatzal): When he turned four or five years old on his birthday (which is 20 Cheshvan; that year it fell during Parshat Vayeira), he went into his grandfather—the tzt"z—to receive a blessing. Entering his grandfather's room he began to cry. The tzt"z asked him why he was crying; he answered that he had heard in cheder that week 'Vayeira Hashem elav' (and Hashem appeared to him)—that Hashem appeared to Avraham Avinu—and he cried because he too wanted to see Him—Hashem—but Hashem had not appeared to him. The tzt"z answered him: A Jew—a tzaddik—who at ninety-nine years old knows he still needs circumcision (i.e., still needs improvement because he has not yet achieved 'vehyeh tamim'), is worthy for Hashem to appear to him.

The words of tzaddikim—even when said privately or even when said to a child of four or five years old—but since they were told over to us and they are words of tzaddikim—they contain instruction and moral lessons for many Jews—even in other places and other times. The lesson is clear.

May Hashem help each of us ascend in Torah and mitzvot with all our willpower; may He give strength for this; may we always remember there is more work ahead and we must strive for 'vehyeh tamim'; may we have trust in Hashem that nothing stands before true desire—and if one truly wants something, Hashem helps.

With blessings for increased observance of mitzvot and fixed Torah study for long days and good years.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that fulfilling one's responsibilities toward Torah institutions and charity enhances both spiritual and physical well-being when done with joy. Even while caring for one's health, one should strive for growth in mitzvot with trust in Hashem's help.