A Soldier of the Rebbe Must Be Ready

Holy Letters of the Rebbe, Volume 17, letter number 6,199. Baruch Hashem, the 28th of Nissan, 5718, Brooklyn. Shalom u’vrachah.

This letter reflects the challenges of the earlier years of shlichus. Today, many people long for the privilege and merit of serving as a shliach of the Rebbe, and there are often more volunteers than available locations. People are willing to travel even to the most remote places. But in those earlier days, it was not always so simple. Many parents did not want their children to move far away. They wanted them close to home. This letter addresses such a situation.

The Rebbe writes that he received the letter with great surprise. The writer had responded to the Rebbe’s suggestion that their son should travel as the Rebbe’s shliach to a certain place, and the parent strongly opposed the proposal.

The Rebbe explains why this surprised him so deeply. He had assumed that the parent would want what was best for the son’s future and for his successful establishment in life. Yet everything written in the letter focused not on what would benefit the son, but on what would suit the parent’s own wishes and needs.

In other words, the Rebbe is drawing a clear distinction between genuine concern for a child’s growth and success, and the natural but self-centered desire to keep a child close for one’s own comfort.

The Rebbe then says that he was even more surprised after the son, a rabbi, together with his wife, came to speak with him about the matter. The Rebbe had thought of him as “my soldier”—er iz meiner a soldat.

A soldier receives an assignment and carries it out. When a commander sends a soldier to a certain place, the expectation is readiness to serve, not hesitation, negotiation, or dependence on outside approval.

But instead, the Rebbe saw that before making a decision, the son felt he had to hear what his mother and family thought. There were also questions about conditions and details before accepting the mission.

The Rebbe indicates that this is not the conduct expected of a soldier. Therefore, he says, he is entirely withdrawing his suggestion.

The Rebbe then adds that there is no need for the parent to become agitated or distressed, and no need to write that the matter is affecting health. It is self-understood that he does not wish to cause anyone pain or health concerns.

He concludes warmly: May Hashem help the son and his wife, and also the parent, with much success in all that they need. May there be true success in visible and revealed good, with the Rebbe’s blessing.

This is a powerful letter. On one hand, the Rebbe speaks firmly about mission, priorities, and what it means to be ready for shlichus. On the other hand, even after withdrawing the proposal, he ends with compassion and heartfelt blessings for the entire family.