Strengthening Kedusha in Challenging Environments

In the holy letters of the Rebbe, Baruch Hashem, the third day of Nissan, 5718. Brooklyn, Shalom u’Vracha. The Rebbe says, I am responding to your letter dated the 27th of Adar, which somebody wrote for you. And its content is that you find yourself in surroundings of people who are not religious, or in Hebrew they would say chofshim or frei, they call them free, they do not follow Torah and mitzvos.

And he is worried that this might impact him. His surroundings may leave an impression on him regarding his own observance of Torah and mitzvos. And this is talking about somebody who was in the army. And being in the army, today they are trying to make special groups for chareidi soldiers, for religious soldiers, but in those days it was not there at all, and he was worried.

So the Rebbe says it is understood that on the contrary, since you are in the army, there needs to be additional care in matters of Torah and mitzvos in general, especially when it comes to matters of sanctity. So those who are in the army, there is a special command, V’haya Machanecha Kadosh, the camp needs to be a place of holiness. Not only that, the Rebbe says your keeping yourself holy impacts the whole camp, the whole army, your whole group. Not only yourself, but your good conduct, which is fitting to the above, is not just your own lot, but the lot of the entire army.

As the verse says, V’haya Machanecha Kadosh v’lo yira becha ervas davar, the verse says your camp should be holy and nothing immodest should be seen by you. And the verse continues, as the Rebbe adds in parentheses, because if not, God forbid, the verse says V’shav macharecha, Hashem will turn away from you. If Hashem turns away from you, the whole camp suffers. So you acting in a way of kedusha, in a modest way, brings about salvation for the whole camp.

And the Rebbe says to look in the commentaries on the Torah. And therefore the Rebbe says, since Hashem is demanding this from you, for sure there is the ability to fulfill the command. It may be difficult, but you have the ability to do it. And the Rebbe says it would be appropriate that you should connect with Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, from those that were in the army, and they can direct you how to add in the observance of Torah and mitzvos. And nothing stands in the way of the will. If you want, you will be able to succeed.

And the Rebbe says, for sure you know the takana, the institution, to say the monthly portion of Tehillim as it is divided for the days of the month, every day after the morning prayers. And also that every weekday before davening, you should separate several coins for tzedakah. The Rebbe blesses him for good news and for a Pesach festival, Chag Pesach Kasher v’Sameach, in the name of the Rebbe by the Rebbe’s secretary.

So this person was in the army, and he was writing to the Rebbe that it is very hard for him to keep Torah and mitzvos while in the army, and maybe he thought the Rebbe would give him a dispensation. The Rebbe says no. On the contrary, in the army you need to be stronger, and your conduct impacts the entire camp, because the verse says Machanecha Kadosh. Torah, mitzvos, and kedusha need to be done with even greater care. If Hashem demands it, that means you can do it. But the Rebbe gives him advice to connect with Tzeirei Agudas Chabad who served in the army, and they will help guide him. If you want, you will succeed. The Rebbe suggests saying the daily Tehillim and giving tzedakah before davening.

Summary
The Rebbe stresses unwavering commitment to Torah standards—whether remaining in Yeshiva or maintaining kedusha in difficult environments. Personal strength and discipline not only protect the individual but elevate and safeguard the entire community.