The name of the recipient of this letter was not released.

B”H, 15 Teves, 5711

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your letters of the 5th and 14th of MarCheshvan and the 26th of Kislev....1

c) You are sad for no reason (effort is necessary [to overcome the challenge you face], but worry is harmful).... In general, it would be valuable to publicize among the chassidic brotherhood the statement in the holy Zohar regarding the damage caused by depression,2 as stated in [Vol. II,] Parshas Tetzaveh, p. 184b: “Come and see, the lower world....”3 In addition to the disturbance it brings about in Torah study, in health itself, etc., it is also harmful to [one’s efforts concerning] the very issue about which one is depressed. This is easy to understand.

d) I received a letter from ... [stating that] you have already began efforts with regard to.... “The wine belongs to the owner, but the butler is deserving of acknowledgment.”4 ([The rationale is] that he had the choice [whether to act or not], as explained by the Tzemach Tzedek in Derech Mitzvosecha, mitzvas milah).5

e) With regard to what you wrote regarding your conversation with some of the residents of ... concerning putting on tefillin (certainly you showed them the publication of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch in English regarding this) and that they answered you with impudence: See what is stated regarding this in Toras Shalom. The fact that they answered impudently (instead of letting the matter pass in stubborn silence) indicates that activity has started (see Kuntres HaTefillah, ch. 8, and Toras Shalom, p. 14,6with regard to the advantage of an ox over a goat). You must find the proper words and time to continue speaking to them about this — and only about this, i.e., [you should explain that] the mitzvah of tefillin is fulfilled merely by putting them on; prayer is a separate matter. I am certain that over the course of time, they will put on tefillin. Afterwards, they will draw close to other aspects of the Torah and its mitzvos.

f) Great thanks7 for the information regarding the farbrengens of Yud-Tes Kislev. Certainly, farbrengens were also held on the fifth night [of Chanukah]1 and you will write [to me] about them. Please — [this is directed to] you and to all the members of our brotherhood — endeavor to conquer the “outer reaches.”8 If, at the moment, you are lacking the mood to do this, contemplate that this is delaying the Redemption, the Resurrection of the Dead, and [the opportunity to] meet the Rebbe, my revered father-in-law,9 and the Rebbe, his father.10 Don’t you long for [them]? Is there any effort that would be too hard for you to undertake if only you could reach that moment? This is the simple fact, not a clever statement.

g) With regard to what you wrote that because of the danger and because of government decrees, your parents were buried without ritual purification: According to your description of the situation that prevailed at that time, what was done was an expression of honor to them. Nevertheless, since you asked about this, in my opinion, [the following should be done]:

1) two observant men should visit their grave and tell them that you are donating to tzedakah on their behalf and that you asked them to convey to your father, so-and-so, the son of so-and-so, and your mother, so-and-so, the daughter of so-and-so, that you are asking forgiveness for what was done and that you had no alternative;

2) on the day of your parents’ yahrzeit, in addition to your ordinary studies,you should establish an extra study session in the laws of mikvaos and Chassidus;11

3) you should be careful regarding the honor of those from whom you have heard new Torah insights.12

What is most important for you to [know] is: enough with depression, as stated above.

With regards to the entire brotherhood,

Menachem Schneerson