By the Grace of G‑d
25 Nissan, 5714 [1954]
Brooklyn

Greetings and Blessings!

In1 response to your letter of the first day of Chol HaMoed Pesach which included a pidyon nefesh78concerning the state of your health, I will mention your name at an auspicious time, as requested, at the holy resting place of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz], with regard to a speedy recovery.

It is no doubt redundant to draw your attention to the necessity of fortifying one’s faith and trust. This applies at all times, but especially during these days,2 when we have just journeyed out of the days of the Festival of Matzos — “the food that fortifies faith”3 and “the food that brings healing”4 — and are on our way toward the Festival of the Giving of our Torah, [whose commandments] the Prophet Chavakuk based on one [principle], which is faith.5

There is a widely-known fundamental concept disseminated by the Baal Shem Tov — that every matter and every incident in the world comes about by Divine Providence.162 This applies in particular to a Jew, and even more particularly to a person whose position enables him to influence a certain circle. After all, the Sages teach that “even the superintendent of the local irrigation well is appointed in Heaven.”6 So since G‑d is the very essence of good, and “it is the nature of One Who is benevolent to act benevolently,”61 there is absolutely no room whatever for undesirable thoughts and the like.

It goes without saying that my aim here is not to rebuke and sermonize,7 G‑d forbid. I am simply studying one of the subjects in the fundamentals of our faith — for studying even the simple subjects in the Torah also counts as part of the mitzvah of Torah study.

I look forward to hearing glad tidings from you in the near future as to how you are tackling your Torah study and your Divine service8 with renewed energy, especially with regard to your profession — that is, with regard to influencing your environment, both near and far, in the spirit of our age-old traditions.9 And may G‑d grant you success.

Looking forward to good news,

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