3163 – Trust in Hashem and Balanced Livelihood

Holy Letters of the Rebbe, Volume 17, Letter number 3163. Baruch Hashem, the 7th of Nissan, 5718, Brooklyn. Shalom u’Bracha.

After such a long interruption, I received your letter dated the second day of Nissan. Now, this person had sold his business and could not find something else to acquire, and he was becoming somewhat discouraged.

So the Rebbe says: Your letter was dated on the second day of Nissan, which is the day of the yahrtzeit, the hillula, of the Rebbe Rashab, with all the titles, in which you wrote that you sold your business and for now you do not have any practical suggestions or options for what to do next.

And the Rebbe says that certainly for someone at your level, there is no need to elaborate at length that it is entirely prohibited to become downcast or depressed in general, and especially because of this matter of the sale. As explained in our holy Torah, which is a Toras Chayim, a Torah of life, and especially in the works of Chassidus. Not only that, but on the contrary, through strengthening your trust in Hashem, you will add more energy toward establishing a new livelihood in a broad, good, and revealed way. You will see that strengthening your trust in Hashem will bring additional blessing in your new livelihood.

The Rebbe says that it was pleasing to read in your letter about your support and involvement in benefiting the holy institutions connected with my father-in-law, the Rebbe, with all the titles, zechuso yagein aleinu. And the Rebbe says that certainly also in the future you will continue with this, and even increase.

And the Rebbe says that he heard several times from his father-in-law, the Rebbe, that a person who is working for such institutions and investing time and effort should not do so only on a voluntary basis, but should receive some compensation. This does not mean that one is being paid for the devotion and energy invested, which cannot be measured or compensated with money. Rather, the compensation is for what one could have been doing instead during that time. Since one is giving up other opportunities, there should be appropriate compensation.

Furthermore, the Rebbe says that in order for a person to work calmly and without concern, so that nothing should be lacking in his involvement, he must receive proper payment.

Therefore, the Rebbe says, one should not do this work entirely for free. Compensation is necessary, not for the essence of the work itself, but to ensure that one is not preoccupied with financial concerns and can focus properly.

The Rebbe adds that there are known stories from the Rebbe Rashab, the father of his father-in-law, who insisted that those traveling on behalf of institutions should receive payment for their efforts and not do so at their own expense.

And in the Rebbe’s opinion, you should now dedicate part of your time to assisting these institutions. After consulting with the appropriate rabbinic authority about the extent of your involvement and the appropriate compensation, you should proceed accordingly.

At the same time, the Rebbe says that part of your day should remain available for engaging in business pursuits as well. You should not devote your entire time exclusively to one or the other. As the verse says, “Umizeh u’mizeh al tanach yadecha”—from both, do not withdraw your hand. Engage both in helping the institutions and in pursuing your own livelihood.

And the Rebbe concludes that Hashem should lead you in a revealed and good way.

The Rebbe blesses him for the festival of Matzos, the time of our freedom, which is upon us and all Jews for the good. He expresses his blessing for a Chag Kasher v’Sameach, and for true freedom from all worries, both physical and spiritual, from anything that may interfere with serving Hashem with joy and gladness of heart. And that this freedom and joy should continue throughout all the days of the year.

Especially, as the Rebbe reiterates, that the service of Hashem, as instructed in our Torah, which is a Toras Chayim, applies in all aspects of a person’s life, throughout the entire day and night, as it is written, “B’chol drachecha da’eihu.” In all your ways, know Him. With blessings for the Yom Tov.

The Rebbe’s guidance here is that one should not become discouraged when facing uncertainty in livelihood. Instead, one should strengthen trust in Hashem, engage both in supporting holy institutions and in personal livelihood, and ensure proper balance and stability.

Summary
The Rebbe teaches that setbacks are opportunities to deepen trust in Hashem. By balancing spiritual work with practical livelihood and maintaining confidence, one draws blessing, stability, and success in all areas of life.

אגרות קודש של הרבי, כרך י״ז, מכתב מספר 3163. ברוך השם, ז׳ ניסן תשי״ח, ברוקלין. שלום וברכה.

הרבי כותב לאחר הפסקה ארוכה שקיבל את מכתבך מיום ב׳ ניסן, בו סיפרת שמכרת את עסקך ואין לך כעת כיוון ברור להמשך.

הרבי מדגיש שאין מקום כלל לייאוש או לדכדוך, ובפרט לא בעניין זה, כפי שמבואר בתורתנו שהיא תורת חיים ובספרי חסידות. אדרבה, על ידי חיזוק הביטחון בה׳ תתווסף הצלחה בהקמת פרנסה חדשה באופן רחב וטוב בגלוי.

הרבי מביע שביעות רצון מהשתתפותך ותמיכתך במוסדות הקדושים, ומעודד להמשיך ואף להוסיף בכך.

הרבי מביא מדברי אדמו״ר הריי״צ שאין לעסוק בעבודת הציבור בהתנדבות בלבד, אלא יש לקבל שכר הולם. לא עבור עצם המסירות, אלא כדי לפצות על מה שיכול היה לעשות בזמן זה, וכדי שיוכל לעבוד בנחת ללא דאגות.

הרבי מזכיר שגם אדמו״ר הרש״ב הקפיד ששליחים יקבלו תשלום על פעילותם.

הרבי מייעץ להקדיש חלק מהזמן לעבודה עבור המוסדות, לאחר התייעצות מתאימה, ובמקביל להשאיר זמן לעיסוק בפרנסה. “ומזה ומזה אל תנח ידך”—יש לשלב בין השניים.

הרבי מסיים בברכה שה׳ ינהיגך בדרך טובה וגלויה, ומברך לחג פסח כשר ושמח ולחירות אמיתית מכל דאגות, כדי לעבוד את ה׳ בשמחה, ולהמשיך זאת לכל ימות השנה.