3225 —הנהגה נכונה של ההגרלה על דמי הטיסה לביקור אצל הרבי

B"H, 25 Teves, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"ch vavaha"ch iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z Moreinu HaRav Rafael Nachman HaKohen

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 15th of Teves, it is surprising that you write you have become discouraged because in your opinion your health is not as it should be, since you feel some discomfort in your heart. Surely a large part of this is because you are preoccupied with this in your thoughts, in addition to lacking routine during the days of gatherings in Kislev. Therefore, when you divert your thoughts and conduct yourself with an orderly schedule in eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., this too will pass.

As you requested, I will mention you for improved health (for even excessive focus on one's health is itself detrimental to health. As is known from the parable we heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe: A completely healthy person does not feel his limbs because it is obvious to him that he uses them as he wishes—whereas when one begins to feel the greatness of his head etc., this indicates pride and self-importance. And as with all parables and their lessons in holiness—the parable itself is also Torah regarding its subject, and so it is in our case).

I will also mention his son-in-law and family who live in Kfar Chabad, over which my father-in-law, the Rebbe, watches and arouses abundant mercy for all its inhabitants to draw down what they need spiritually and materially. May their vessels for receiving be broad enough for their needs.

I was pleased that you included in your letter a list of those participating in the raffle. Since according to your letter you are among the organizers of the raffle—surely you will find suitable words to explain to all participants that—seemingly according to Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 207:13), a raffle such as this—where the winner gains something worth much more than what he paid for his participation—raises a concern of asmachta (a conditional agreement) which does not effect acquisition. Therefore, it must be that in our case all participants wholeheartedly agreed to give over their money without any reservation; and so there should not even be a suspicion—it's best that the winner be considered as their agent (shaliach), since 'a person's agent is like himself,' so through the winner's trip, in a certain sense each one of them travels.

Even if among those participants there might be someone who wants to travel for some secondary reason, still it is certain that most intend to be at the holy gravesite (the tziyun), to meet etc., so although only one wins the trip, all participants should make appropriate preparations as if they themselves were traveling.

Before going to a tzaddik's gravesite—and especially one who is a general soul and particularly a Nasi Yisrael—one must prepare in all five matters mentioned in the discourse on histatchus by Admor HaEmtza'i, which correspond to nefesh-ruach-neshamah-chayah-yechidah of every Jew's soul.

May it be G‑d's will that all of the above brings about actual movement and awakening in Torah study and mitzvah observance fitting our Rebbes' wishes—my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal nishmaso Eden.

As requested I will mention you at the holy gravesite also regarding your question and answer sent to the consul. May Hashem guide you on a good path before Him—in visible and revealed good—both materially and spiritually.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that both physical health concerns and communal endeavors like raffles require proper mindset and spiritual preparation. When organizing or participating in such activities for holy purposes, everyone should act with unity and readiness as if each could merit the experience.