The name of the woman to whom this letter was sent was not released.

B”H, 11 Nissan, 5711,
Brooklyn

Blessings and greetings,1

I received your letters, one from 24 Adar II and one that was undated. As per your request, when I was at the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, זצוקללה"ה, נבג"ם, זי"ע,2 I made mention of … for the good, for everything that is needed. Please write me his mother’s name.

In general, if it should happen that my reply [to a letter] is delayed, that means only that a [written] answer was held back. I will fulfill the request [made therein], however, as soon as possible. Writing [an answer], though, is dependent on many concerns that preoccupy my time.

You ask for a segulah.3 In general, it is not my practice to give segulos, but [I will advise you as follows]: as in every Jewish house, one should check the mezuzos,and the members of the household should recite Tehillim every day.

You are certainly correct regarding what you wrote in your letter — that we have already suffered enough afflictions and that it is due time for everyone to be helped in the matters that he needs and, in particular, with proper health. I hope that you will be able to report good news to me about this matter.

There is, however, an observation I would like to make even though I am not altogether sure that it is entirely appropriate to this instance.

In general, in many instances, a person’s feelings of security depend on a matter that is above and beyond him. To put it simply, it depends on his feelings of faith and trust in the Creator of the world as a whole and the Creator of the world in microcosm — i.e., man — in particular. The great shock waves experienced by our generation which shook many different spiritual foundations and tore many people away from the deep-rooted traditions of their family and nation had an effect on many people and made them feel as if they were suspended in midair.

I am also speaking about people who are believers, but their faith became disconnected from the realities of their lives. They think about [their faith] — they say Shema Yisrael or Modeh Ani, and often while paying attention to the meaning of the words — and yet they carry on throughout the entire day with the feeling that they are alone. Everyone then derives conclusions from this according to his nature and personal tendencies.

In order to bring people back in balance, the realistic approach is to reveal the traditions of one’s family and the traditions of one’s ancestors that are at present, hidden in their souls. They will then see that a person is not alone, and that, furthermore, a person is in control of his destiny only to a certain degree, and primarily, the matter is dependent on G‑d. Therefore, he need not carry everything on his own shoulders and feel an overwhelming responsibility for everything. Needless to say, he need not feel despair over particular matters and situations.

When a person connects with feelings of faith and trust which, without a doubt, are deeply implanted within him, this brings him tranquility and enables him to persevere through the experience of “Against your will, you live”4 in a healthy manner. And it enables every person to carry out the task which he has [been given] for his life.

It is self-understood that every matter, particularly those matters associated with the inner dimensions of the soul, require assistance from Heaven. The merit of one’s ancestors — the fact that one has descended from a family and parents who were permeated through and through with faith and trust in G‑d — is beneficial in this regard. Ultimately, this will call forth [similar feelings] from their descendants and enable them to come to this [recognition].

I hope that you will be able to share good tidings with me. I conclude with a wish for a kosher and happy holiday for you and your household.

With blessings that you soon report good tidings,

I would be interested in knowing the makeup of your family.