The Wheel of Fortune

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
Lubavitch
770 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11213

By the Grace of G-d
11th of Menachem Av, 5714 [August 10, 1954]
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mr. Shneur Zalmon Jaffe
Salford, England

Sholom uBrocho:

I have received your letter of August 5th, and in compliance with your request I will remember you in prayer for improved business on my next visit at the holy resting place of my father-in-law of saintly memory.

A lack of courage and assurance brings with it a lessening of initiative I am sorry to note some discouragement in your outlook by reason of the setback you had in business. Surely you know that our Sages refer to the ‘wheel’ of fortune, and after a turn of the wheel downward must come a turn upward, but a lack of faith does not help it. Besides, there is also the psychological effect, and a lack of courage and assurance brings with it a lessening of initiative, etc. Actually there has been a general business recession, and your setback was not exceptional, while the worst in business seems to be over.

In view of the all above, it is my decided opinion that you have no cause for worry, and you should be quite firm in your faith in G-d that things will improve. While doing everything necessary in a natural way, one should never forget that it is G-d’s blessing which brings success, and G-d is not limited to business cycles, so that as long as you keep the channels of Torah and Mitzvoth wide open, especially in everything connected with the Jewish home, you should have every confidence in the flow of G-d’s blessings.

I trust your brother conveyed my regards to your son’s Bar Mitzvah, for he had told me that he expected to be in Manchester on that occasion. I wish you and your wife much Chassidishe Nachas.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson