5973 —ברכות על ההגעה לארץ הקודש וחיזוק החסידות

B"H, 7th of Teves, 5718. Brooklyn.

Harav v'chassid v'chacham ish yerei Elokim ne'eman u'navon etc. Chaim Baruch Duchman shlita

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With pleasure and great joy I received the news of your ascent together with your wife, may she live, to Eretz HaKodesh may it be rebuilt and established.

Now I have received your letter from the eve of the bright day of Yud-Tes Kislev, Rosh Hashanah for Chassidim (for their essence is the study of Chassidus and its ways).

May it be His will that just as you have gone out into the open through the kindness of Hashem, so too will be fulfilled in you the promise of our Sages that whoever is treated kindly will merit long days and years—for you and your wife—in revealed and apparent good.

At an auspicious time I will mention you and all those about whom you write at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal (may his merit protect us), each one for what they need according to your letter's content. Surely my father-in-law, the Rebbe, continues to serve on high and arouses abundant mercy to draw from the source of compassion and kindness upon all who are connected and attached. All those who were or still are in distress—may Hashem redeem them speedily with kindness and mercy. In abundant joy may they take a leading part in all they need; after all, their preservation of Judaism and Chassidus was uniquely under frightening conditions—extremely constrained—possible only through the inner dimension of Torah which connects one's soul inwardly and essentially with G‑d's very essence beyond time and space—even at the loftiest levels. Thus even in the deepest depths this strength endures; as explained at length in "Mashkil L'Eisan HaEzrachi" by our master the Alter Rebbe and its commentaries. Ultimately their victory is assured—even to a revealed triumph in manifest good.

May it be His will that you merit to further encourage and strengthen among Anash (our community) and chassidim in Eretz HaKodesh so that with true expansiveness in every sense they stand with that same desire and energy as before. As is known from the Baal Shem Tov's explanation on "Tzama lecha nafshi... b'eretz tziyah v'ayef b'li mayim" (My soul thirsts for You... in a parched land weary without water)—may it be so—"ken bakodesh chazisicha" (so have I seen You in holiness).

Blessings for good settlement materially and spiritually with proper health, awaiting good news.

P.S. Thank you very much for your photo—and your family—which you enclosed with your letter.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that arriving in Eretz HaKodesh should inspire renewed commitment to chassidic life. Through inner Torah connection, one can overcome challenges and merit revealed blessings for oneself and others.