6216 —Financial Strain, Tefillin, and the Path to Blessing

From the Holy Letters of the Rebbe, Volume 17, Letter 6216. Baruch Hashem, the third day of Iyar, 5718, Brooklyn.

The Rebbe addresses a correspondent who writes about his financial situation, explaining that his livelihood is affecting his health. He describes being preoccupied with work from early morning until late at night, leaving him exhausted and with little time for anything else. The Rebbe responds by first focusing on the practical, material predicament, showing genuine concern and seeking to understand the full scope of the situation before addressing spiritual matters.

The Rebbe acknowledges the challenge of working such long hours and notes that in such circumstances, it is appropriate to consider finding a suitable business partner. If the current profits of the store are not sufficient to support two partners, the common practice is for the new partner to invest additional resources to expand the business. This expansion can lead to increased profits, and in this way, over time, it should become possible to arrange the work hours so that there is also time for rest, making the overall work more manageable and pleasant. The Rebbe emphasizes that a primary condition for a partner is that he should be a person who is easy to get along with and pleasant in his dealings with others.

After offering this practical advice, the Rebbe turns to the spiritual aspect of the correspondent’s letter. The writer confesses that he is not religious and even gives reasons for this, admitting that he is not careful about putting on tefillin—the phylacteries—and, as he writes, he does not have time to put on tefillin because he is so busy with his business.

The Rebbe points out that even a brief reflection reveals how the content of the letter contradicts itself from end to beginning. The mitzvah of putting on tefillin is a command from the Creator and Ruler of the world, who has promised great reward and abundant blessing for fulfilling this mitzvah. Yet, at the very start of his letter, the writer describes how much he needs blessing and increased success, and then continues by stating that he does not fulfill the very mitzvah whose reward is the blessings of the Creator in all that a person needs. Not only that, but he explains that he does not have time to fulfill the mitzvah because he is preoccupied with his business. The Rebbe likens this to someone saying he cannot engage in earning a livelihood because he is too busy not having a livelihood.

Whatever the reasons may have been for not living a religious Jewish life until now, the Rebbe makes clear that this does not justify continuing in that way from now on. It is obvious that the consequences of such conduct—that is, the lack of blessings from Hashem and success in life—remain in place as long as the conduct does not change. Therefore, first and foremost, the Rebbe urges him to immediately begin living in accordance with the demands of our Torah, the Torah of life, in daily life, together with his wife. He should be strong in his trust in the Creator and Ruler of the world, in line with what is stated in the Torah: “If you will walk in My statutes and keep My commandments… I will give your rains in their season…”—all the blessings enumerated in the portion.

Based on all the above, it is clear that he should begin immediately to put on tefillin every weekday. It is also understood that the tefillin should be checked to ensure they are kosher.

The Rebbe concludes by expressing his anticipation for good news in all the above matters, and signs on behalf of the Rebbe, the mazkir—secretary.

What is remarkable here is that a person who is not religious writes to the Rebbe about his financial difficulties, and the Rebbe does not immediately rebuke him for not putting on tefillin. Instead, the Rebbe first offers practical advice and empathy, only afterward addressing the spiritual issue. The Rebbe points out that the writer is seeking blessing, yet at the same time, he is withholding from himself the very source of blessing by neglecting the mitzvah of tefillin. The Rebbe encourages him to change this, for if he does not, the lack of Hashem’s blessings will persist. Therefore, the Rebbe suggests he should begin putting on tefillin and ensure they are kosher, and he awaits good news in all these matters, in the name of the Rebbe, through the secretary.