By the Grace of G‑d
12th of Tishrei, 5734 [October 8, 1973]
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

It was gratifying to read your inspiring letter of Oct. 3. May G‑d grant that you should with joy carry to fruition the program of Torah education which you have made your goal - in the fullest measure and more. I believe I had occasion to quote to you my father-in-law of saintly memory to the effect that when a Jew resolves to do a good thing, the One Above immediately opens for him additional channels if necessary, to accomplish it even better than expected.

Needless to say, in light of what is happening at this moment in our Holy Land, involving our people everywhere, it is impossible to write a letter at this time without making reference to it. I will only say here that these events once again demonstrate, and will do so conclusively in the coming days, what has been emphasized in my letter of the 6th of Tishrei, namely, that our Jewish people have been given by G‑d unlimited capacities - if these are linked with the age-old Prophetic principle, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says G‑d."

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

At first glance, this seems somewhat at variance with the Torah's own principle that a Jew must do everything possible in the natural order, and not rely entirely on miracles. Yet it is an obvious truism and a matter of common experience that even in material aspects, when matching physical forces, it is not brute strength, sheer numbers, or the weight of military hardware that is the decisive factor but rather the quality of the combatants and the sophistication of their methods. The character of the human element, its morale, motivation, selfless dedication, and similar inspired qualities easily outweigh the purely physical disadvantages.

And if this is so in the realm of the physical, surely the spiritual capacities of the Jew - and a substantial part of every Jew's life is after all in the realm of the spirit - are inestimable. There is no need to elaborate to you on the above.

May G‑d grant that we should all merit soon to see the fulfillment of the Divine promise that "all the earth will be filled with the knowledge of G‑d," when, as a matter of course, "Nation will not lift up a sword unto nation," which will come to pass with the coming of our righteous Moshiach, bringing us the true Geulo.

With warm regards and blessing for a happy Yom Tov,