The name of the recipient of this letter was not released.
B”H, 9 MarCheshvan, 5711
Greetings and blessings,
In response to your express letter: I have asked you and cautioned you several times not to be sad or depressed.
I explained to you [my] rationale; that my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, blessed you many times and, “a tzaddik decrees, and the Holy One, blessed be He, fulfills [that decree],” as the Talmud ordains.1
Heaven forbid to cast any doubt about this or to weaken your trust, for in addition to all the statements of our Sages explaining how [being depressed] is undesirable, [it also] ruins the channels of influence. To refer to the wording of the Zohar, Parshas Tetzaveh, p. 184b:
Come and see: The lower world is always ready to receive. It is called “the jewel.” The upper world grants its influence only in response to [the lower world’s] approach. If the approach from below is with a shining face, influence is also beamed forth to it from Above. But if, however, its approach is with sadness, it is given judgment in return. In this vein, [it is stated]:2 “Serve G‑d with happiness,” and the happiness of a person draws down sublime happiness of another type.
It is about time you started obeying this.
With blessings for all sorts of everlasting good and, in particular, for a speedy recovery,
Menachem Schneerson
Two Opposite Views There is a kind of combinations of two opposites that is contained within this philosophy for living. On the one had we are saddened by recent news of many kinds but on the other hand we know that our ability to accept and overcome the effects of the depression that results, is what will carry us on. Until we accept that these opposites can occur together and that our lives are not so simple as to include only one thing at a time, will we nevers manage to find a way to a proper way of living to the full.