6040 - Strengthening Commitment and Positive Influence

From Igros Kodesh, the letters of the Rebbe, Volume 16, Letter number 6040. Baruch Hashem, the 7th of Shevat, 5718, Brooklyn.
Shalom u’Vrachah.

Here is another letter, also dated the 7th of Shevat, like the previous ones. The Rebbe writes that he is responding to a letter dated the 27th of Teves. In that letter, the writer asks what to do to help him with diligence in Torah study. Sometimes people struggle—they want to learn, but they lack the necessary diligence, or what is sometimes called sitzfleisch, the patience to sit and learn. Whatever the case may be, he is asking for help with hasmodah in Talmud Torah.

He also asks for help in dealing with those who mock him—that he should not be affected by people who laugh at him and discourage him.

The Rebbe responds, similarly to the previous letters, that this has already been addressed at the very beginning, in the opening of all four sections of the Shulchan Aruch: Shiviti Hashem l’negdi tamid—to place Hashem before one’s eyes at all times—is a great principle of the Torah. As stated there, when a person truly places Hashem before himself, the awe and fear of Hashem immediately reach him, and he will not be embarrassed by anyone. When Hashem is watching, what people around you do or say no longer matters.

The Rebbe directs the reader to look in the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch at the beginning of Chapter One, in the Rema and in the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe. The message is the same as in the previous letters: one letter addressed removing bad thoughts, another addressed loving one’s fellow, and here the question is diligence in learning and not being affected by mockery. In all cases, the foundation is the same—placing Hashem before one’s eyes.

However, the Rebbe adds that in order to strengthen the impact of this reflection—that Hashem is always before you and therefore guides your behavior—one should, as previously advised, study Chapter 41 of the holy Tanya (Sefer Tanya Kadisha), from the beginning until page 56b, the words lifnei haMelech. One should study it repeatedly, until it is known by heart.

The letter then addresses a second question: How should one influence one’s friends? What is the proper path to have an impact on others?

The Rebbe answers with the well-known teaching of our Sages: Devarim hayotzim min halev nichnasim el halev—words that come from the heart enter the heart. To be effective, one must speak sincerely, with feeling and inner conviction.

The Rebbe explains that the heart is called the “king” of the body, because through the heart all the limbs are influenced—all actions, speech, and even thought. The heart supplies the life force to the entire body. For the heart to influence properly, it must itself be strong and healthy.

Metaphorically, the same applies to influencing others. If you want to influence people, you must first strengthen yourself. The more a person improves his own conduct to align with the directives of our holy Torah, the more successful he will be in influencing his friends. There is no greater form of influence than being a living example in the very areas in which one seeks to influence others.

The Rebbe adds a general rule taught by our Sages: Anyone who possesses yirat Shamayim—fear of Heaven—his words are listened to (Berachos 6b). When a person lives with fear of Heaven, his words naturally carry weight.

The Rebbe concludes by stating that he will read the writer’s pidyon nefesh at an auspicious time at the holy tziyun of his father-in-law, the Rebbe. He reminds him of the three daily study cycles—Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya—and notes that the Previous Rebbe emphasized many times that these studies are equal for all and serve as a segulah for many matters. The Rebbe advises him to maintain these studies, as they will assist him in his struggles.

In summary, the Rebbe teaches that diligence in Torah study begins with placing Hashem before one’s eyes, as stated at the beginning of the Shulchan Aruch. He reinforces this through the study of Chapter 41 of Tanya, and teaches that true influence over others comes from self-strengthening, sincerity, fear of Heaven, and serving as a living example.