9044 —תקשורת ישירה, הדרכת התורה, והעלאת משפחה ותלמידים

B"H, 22nd of Marcheshvan, 5726. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the 14th of Cheshvan, surely by now you have already received my reply to your aforementioned question. One of the main reasons for the delay was not, as you wrote, due to many and most important matters; rather, since the issue about which you wrote concerns an entire world and everlasting edifice, my hope was to receive a letter directly from his daughter (may she live). As Torah instructs: Nikra la'naarah v'nishalah et piha ("Let us call the maiden and ask her own mouth"), for in matters that are primarily dependent on heart and feeling, hearing about them secondhand is not comparable to hearing firsthand—even from the closest person. This is clear. Only when I saw that apparently such a letter would not come did I reply as above.

My strong hope is that since our conversation when you were here, you have utilized the power of our Torah in its command to ascend in holiness (for a commandment of Torah is also an empowerment—and moreover a guarantee—as explained by our master the Alter Rebbe), meaning that you have ascended and elevated others—especially your family members and students (who are also called children)—in matters of Torah holiness and its mitzvos. Especially since in such cases we are assured: haba l'taher mesayyin oto ("One who comes to purify is assisted") and adam mekadesh atzmo me'at milmata mekadshin oto harbeh milma'alah ("A person sanctifies himself a little below—they sanctify him much from above").

With blessing for good news in all the above.

In the name of the Rebbe Shlita—Secretary

Summary

This letter teaches that direct communication is vital for sensitive issues. The Rebbe emphasizes using Torah's guidance to elevate oneself and one's surroundings—especially family and students—in holiness and mitzvos, assuring Divine assistance when one strives for spiritual growth.