By the Grace of G‑d
4 Teves, 5722 [1961]
Brooklyn

Blessings and Greetings!114

This1 comes as a reply to your letter of Rosh Chodesh Teves, in which you write that you are worried and so on, and you request advice.

The advice that is offered is simple — strengthening oneself in one’s trust in G‑d, Who is the Creator of the world and directs it, and Who focuses His supervision upon every man and woman with His hashgachah peratis. One should also meditate upon the words of “the sweet singer of Israel,”365 in the name of every member of the Jewish people: “The L‑rd is my shepherd,”2 and “G‑d is with me; I shall not fear.”366 You should also study the above psalm (ch. 23) until you are thoroughly familiar with its content, and from time to time you should ponder over it. For the enemy mentioned in that psalm3 includes the Evil Inclinationand his affairs, which are the inner enemies of a Jewish man or woman.

This subject is especially understandable in light of what is explained in the teachings of Chassidus — that G‑d is the very essence of good, and “it is in the nature of One Who is benevolent to act benevolently,”61 and He supervises every man and woman with individual Providence.

As to what you write about the past, “There is nothing that stands in the way of repentance.”4 However, repentance, too, must be done out of a firm trust in G‑d, and not (G‑d forbid) out of despair.

You no doubt participate in the activities of the Chabad Women’s Organization.

With blessings for good news in all the above,

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