4560 —השתתפות בלימוד תורה ברבים ולימודים מתאונה של רכבת

B"H, 24 Tammuz, 5716. Brooklyn.

Harav v'chassid iy"a nu"n etc. Shlomo Madentzik

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After a very long journey, your letter from Erev Shabbat arrived, and in this letter you do not write about your participation in the classes that are studied publicly, nor about your influence on others to bring them closer to Chassidus, its guidance and customs. Spiritual charity increases the blessings from Hashem, so that one's mind and heart become refined a thousand times more; refining the heart immediately leads to improvement of character traits even before there is complete transformation. In continuation to my previous letters, I await to hear good news from you especially regarding this.

Regarding what you wrote about the incident with the diesel locomotive and its cars: According to the well-known saying of the Baal Shem Tov that every matter contains a lesson in serving Hashem, if something is not proper it should serve as proof for an action change—which is also the rectification for that undesirable matter—so too in this case. The locomotive motor represents in Avodah the G‑dly soul about which it is said: 'Neshamah sheNataita bi...' (the soul You placed within me...), 'Kol zman shehaneshamah bikirbi modeh ani lefanecha' (as long as my soul is within me I thank You), together with the animal soul and body. In general man this is the head and intellect, and the rule is that mind must rule over heart. However, the work should not be done with chaos—banging and breaking—but as per the words of the Baal Shem Tov: 'Azov ta'azov imo' (you shall surely help him), as explained in Hayom Yom on the verse 'Ki tireh chamor' (when you see a donkey) (Hayom Yom 28 Shevat 5703). Through daily work one should not bang on the motor or overturn cars, because each day is 'me'at me'at agarsheinu' (little by little I will drive them out) through doing what is stated in Torah and mitzvos and Chassidus. About this it also says: 'Lo bashamayim hi ki karov eilecha hadavar meod' (it is not in heaven... for it is very near to you), as explained by Rabbeinu HaZaken.

And Torah is eternal; it applies equally to every Jew in every place and time wherever one may find oneself.

May Hashem grant you success to report good news regarding all of the above matters and also influence others in these aforementioned areas. Also may you raise all your children for Torah, marriage, and good deeds...

With blessing.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that involvement in communal Torah study brings increased Divine blessing and personal refinement. Even negative events can inspire positive change when viewed through Chassidic insight—progress comes through steady daily effort rather than harshness.