5525 —ברכה לבריאות והצלחה בפעילות גמ"ח

B"H, 18 Sivan, 5717.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'Tz"tz Mohe Yaakov

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After the long pause, I was pleased to receive your letter from the 12th of Sivan with the good news about the improvement in health... May it be Hashem's will that her condition continues to improve until she returns to full strength. May you continue to share good news regarding your efforts and success in expanding the gmach fund in your synagogue.

It is worth noting the harmony between these two matters: The role of a synagogue—a house of prayer—is to request one's needs from Hashem, including literally one's children, health, and abundant livelihood. The vessel for drawing down these blessings into this world—meaning actual children, health, and livelihood—is the mitzvah of tzedakah. As explained by our master the Alter Rebbe in Iggeres HaKodesh in several places, one of the highest forms of tzedakah is gmach (interest-free loans), as is well understood.

May it be Hashem's will that for many years you continue to perform acts of kindness through this gmach fund and also spiritual kindness by spreading Judaism in general and especially disseminating Chassidus wherever you can reach. This will also add to your success in gmach with this "downtrodden one" (see Tanya beginning of chapter 29)—gmach both materially and spiritually.

With a blessing in the wording of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe: "For a healthy and joyous summer."

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that prayer and acts of charity—especially through a gmach—are deeply connected. Material and spiritual kindness bring blessings for health and success, encouraging us to help others both physically and spiritually wherever possible.