8219 —ניצול כשרונות להפצת היהדות והחסידות

B"H, 7 Tishrei, 5722. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

We acknowledge receipt of your letter in which you write, among other things, about your activities over the period since your arrival from... Z.A., more than half a year ago. And it is hoped—certainly for you there is no need to elaborate—that the activities you describe might suffice for a businessman or someone whose main occupation is entirely different, who only uses his spare time to spread Judaism or support institutions, etc. But this is not at all sufficient for one whose main occupation should be this work.

The intention here is not only because your salary comes from a communal fund and therefore your work must be done faithfully, etc.—the main point is that a person must be careful not to waste his days even more so. As explained in Chassidus on the verse 'Yamim Yutzaru V'lo Echad Bahem' ("Days were formed for me, but none of them are his"), the number of days matches the required activities; every day that is not filled—and certainly if it is empty of the necessary activities—is... However, in judging favorably in our case—[contrary to your letter where you say that because you lacked sustenance you were lacking in activity; rather, on the contrary] because you had sustenance, you did not pay attention to our Sages' saying: 'Better to eat simple meat in the marketplace than say I am a Kohen,' and so much so that before starting any activity you examined it seven times to see if there was anything unbefitting honor, etc., etc.

And our Sages taught: "We do not cry over the past." Especially in our case, where it makes no practical difference whether it was due to lack of will or lack of ability; after all, the idea of shlichus (mission) specifically means that the emissary should not wait for instruction on every detail or wait for the days of Mashiach when the spirit of impurity will be removed from the earth and there will be no more concealments and obstacles. On the contrary—the goal is to spread light in places of darkness and concealment [and often this concealment includes worries about livelihood. And regarding you specifically this was ruled out, yet still...].

It is clear and understood that now during the Ten Days of Repentance there is no need to elaborate on such matters; after all, everyone's merits are being weighed—they must be emphasized all the more so. And at least from now on—you should discuss with... It goes without saying that none of what was said above contains any aspect of criticism or similar; rather it is only great pain that for various reasons you wasted your time, talents, and knowledge without utilizing them as needed for spreading Chassidus within spreading Judaism—and especially since you are among tens of thousands of our Jewish brethren whose souls hunger and thirst for G‑d's word [though many do not know why they feel this thirst and hunger; fortunate is he who uses his talents to inform them about this matter and bring them under the wings of the Shechinah]. Apparently even the saying 'Everything depends on mazal' applies here as well.

With blessings for inscription and sealing for good and a good sweet year in the name of His Honor our Rebbe shlita.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that one must fully utilize their G‑d-given talents and opportunities for spreading Judaism and Chassidus—not just as an aside but as their primary mission—especially when others depend on their inspiration.