ב"ה, י"ג אלול, תשט"ו
ברוקלין.
שלום וברכה!
במענה על מכתבו מר"ח הרחמים, בו כותב אשר הוטב מצב בריאותו בגשמיות ותולה זה במה שהוטב המצב ברוחניות בנוגע למדות טובות, ואכן כן הדברים אשר הגשמיות תלוי בהרוחניות, ובפרט בכל אחד ואחת מישראל שהם גוי אחד בארץ[1], שדוקא בארץ מגלים את האחדות האמיתית וכמבואר בכ"מ ומרומז ברמב"ם הלכות יסודי התורה בתחלתו, ופשוט שגם בזה לא המדרש עיקר אלא המעשה[2], היינו שיסיח דעתו לגמרי מהתכונות לא טובות ובמילא במשך הזמן יוכל גם לבטלם.
ומ"ש אודות הענין הידוע ותקונו, הנה בזמננו זה יש להסיח דעת מזה עד לאחר החתונה בשעה טובה ומוצלחת וכמובן ג"כ משו"ת אדמו"ר הצמח צדק נדפסה בשער המילואים חלק ב' סי' ס"ב, אשר המחשבה אפילו בהתיקון של הדבר עלולה ח"ו וכו', וכן לא ירבה בסיגופים ותעניות כמבואר באגרת התשובה לרבנו הזקן[3]ובכגון דא הפירוש שלא ירבה, שלא יעסוק בזה כיון שמחליש צלילות המחשבה ויכולת העיון בלימוד התורה ובמילא ה"ז ריבוי רב מכפי יכולתו. ותמורת תעניות אלו יהיו התעניות המבוארים בפתגם כ"ק אדמו"ר מוהר"ש (ספר התולדות עמוד ע"ב יעו"ש), וכן ירבה באותיות התורה והתפלה, ומה טוב גם בדבור אם הוא בלא בליטות, וישפיע על הנוער לקרב לבן לאבינו שבשמים. ומובן שכל הנ"ל מההכרח הוא שיעשה מתוך שמחה, ולפלא גדול שמרבה בכתיבתו בהתאוננות על מצבו ואינו מזכיר ע"ד שיעוריו בתורת הנגלה ותורת החסידות בשופי, וכן מפעולותיו במסגרת צעירי אגודת חב"ד...
בברכה לבשו"ט ולכתיבה וחתימה טובה,
בשם כ"ק אדמו"ר שליט"א
מזכיר
B"H, 13 Elul, 5715
Brooklyn.
Greetings and Blessings!
In response to your letter from the beginning of the month of Rachamim (Elul), where you write that your physical health has improved, which you attribute to the improvement in your spiritual state regarding good character traits. Indeed, this is true—that physical well-being is dependent on spiritual well-being, especially in each and every Jew, as they are "one nation on earth," that it is specifically on earth that they reveal the true unity, as explained in many places and hinted at in the Rambam’s "Laws of the Foundations of the Torah" at the beginning. And it is obvious that it is not the study that is primary, but the action, meaning that you should completely divert your mind from negative traits, and over time, you will also be able to nullify them.
Regarding what you mentioned about the known issue and its correction, in our times, one should divert their mind from this until after the wedding, in a good and successful time. This is also evident from the responsa of the Tzemach Tzedek, printed in "Sha'ar HaMilu'im," Part 2, Section 62, where he writes that even thinking about the correction of the matter can, G-d forbid, lead to undesirable consequences. Likewise, one should not do a lot of fasting and self-affliction, as explained in "Iggeret HaTeshuvah" by the Alter Rebbe, and in such cases, the explanation of not doing a lot means that one should not engage in this, as it weakens mental clarity and the ability to study Torah, which is therefore a greater excess than one can bear. Instead of these fasts, one should engage in the fasts mentioned in the saying of the Rebbe Maharash (refer to Sefer HaToldos, p. 72). Also, one should increase in the letters of Torah and prayer, and it is even better if done in speech, as long as it is without outward displays. One should also influence the youth to draw them closer to our Father in Heaven. It is understood that all of this must be done with joy, and it is very surprising that you write a lot about your griping regarding your situation and do not mention anything about your classes in the revealed Torah and Chassidus in abundance, nor about your activities within the framework of Tzerei Agudas Chabad...
With blessings for good news and for a good and sweet year,
In the name of the Rebbe, Shlit"a Secretary
- 1 וּמִ֤י כְעַמְּךָ֙ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גּ֥וֹי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכֽוּ־אֱ֠לֹהִים לִפְדּֽוֹת־ל֨וֹ לְעָ֜ם וְלָשׂ֧וּם ל֣וֹ שֵׁ֗ם וְלַעֲשׂ֨וֹת לָכֶ֜ם הַגְּדוּלָּ֤ה וְנֹֽרָאוֹת֙ לְאַרְצֶ֔ךָ מִפְּנֵ֣י עַמְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּדִ֤יתָ לְּךָ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם גּוֹיִ֖ם וֵאלֹהָֽיו: (שמואל ב פרק ז פסוק כג)
- 2 משנה אבות א יז
- 3 עיי"ש פ"ג : אסור לו להרבות בתעניות
B"H, 13 Elul, 5715.
Brooklyn.
Shalom u'Vrachah!
In response to your letter from the beginning of the month of Rachamim (Elul), where you write that your physical health has improved, which you attribute to the improvement in your spiritual state regarding good character traits. Indeed, this is true: physical well-being is dependent on spiritual well-being, especially in each and every Jew, as they are goy echad ba'aretz ("one nation on earth")—that it is specifically on earth that they reveal the true unity, as explained in many places and hinted at in Rambam's Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah at its beginning. And it is obvious that it is not the study that is primary but the action; meaning that you should completely divert your mind from negative traits, and over time you will also be able to nullify them.
Regarding what you mentioned about the known issue and its correction: in our times one should divert their mind from this until after the wedding at a good and successful time. This is also evident from the responsa of the tzt"z printed in Sha'ar HaMilu'im Part 2 Section 62, where he writes that even thinking about correcting the matter can, G‑d forbid, lead to undesirable consequences. Likewise, one should not do a lot of fasting and self-affliction as explained in Iggeret HaTeshuvah by the Alter Rebbe; in such cases "not doing a lot" means not engaging in this at all since it weakens mental clarity and ability to study Torah—which is therefore a greater excess than one can bear.
Instead of these fasts, one should engage in the fasts mentioned in the saying of the Rebbe Maharash (see Sefer HaToldos p. 72). Also increase in letters of Torah and prayer; even better if done verbally as long as it is without outward displays. Influence youth to draw them closer to our Father in Heaven.
It is understood all this must be done with joy. It is very surprising that you write so much about your complaints regarding your situation but do not mention anything about your classes in revealed Torah or Chassidus abundantly nor about your activities within Tzeirei Agudas Chabad.
With blessings for good news and for a good inscription and sealing for a sweet year,
In the name of the Rebbe Shlit"a,
Secretary
Summary
The Rebbe teaches that spiritual growth leads to physical well-being. He discourages excessive fasting or focusing on faults; instead, he encourages positive action with joy—especially through Torah study—and influencing others toward goodness with happiness.