Letters of Consolation

Letter to a teenage girl who lost her mother. Reconciles contradiction in our sages’ mourning laws; discusses the departed soul’s ascent and how to keep close to it.

At this time the soul "departs from the body," in the sense that it abandons the bodily needs, inclinations and lusts. This is a fitting time to reflect upon the opportunities which have been given to the soul to "return" to its Source

Whatever the direct cause of the separation of the soul from the body, whether a fatal accident or a fatal illness, it could affect only any of the vital organs of the physical body, but could in no way affect the spiritual soul.

The Yartzeit should not call forth any feeling of sadness, but rather a feeling of earnest reflection, introspection and self-examination. With a view to attuning one’s life on this earth to the life-path of the soul Above, which is constantly on the ascent

I was deeply grieved to read in the newspaper about the tragic loss of your tender young son, may he rest in peace... During a time of war and peril you were saved - indeed, you were among those who secured the victory for our nation, the Children of Israel, against our enemies.

Our sages say that Jacob never died alive. What is the message to us and can we reconnect to our deceased loved ones?

Letter to a teenage girl who lost her mother. Reconciles contradiction in our sages’ mourning laws; discusses the departed soul’s ascent and how to keep close to it.

This person had invited members of his community to a festive meal in his home on Shavuot, to celebrate the completion of a Torah scroll which was scheduled to be presented to the synagogue in the days following the festival. In the course of the celebration, a young woman suddenly fell ill and died. The distraught host wrote the Rebbe, seeking answers to his questions

Should one mourn a death for eternity? And when one stops mourning, does he lose his connection with the departed soul? Would the soul be happy if we refrain from mourning?

is more bearable--and its recovery more certain