The name of the recipient of this letter was not released.

B”H, 11 Elul, 5710

Greetings and blessings,

I was sorry to hear that you are not in the best of health and, according to some reports, there are times when you are depressed. I was amazed at this because it is well known and explained in several places in the teachings of Chassidus that a chassid must feel the truth. 1 (In truth, this applies to all created beings. What distinguishes chassidim, and particularly temimim, 2 is that not only do they understand [this truth] intellectually, but they feel it as well.)

Every created being has two opposite dimensions. From one perspective, i.e., from his own perspective, he is absolute nothingness. But from a second perspective, since he is a created being brought into existence by G‑d’s Essence — and that is the totality of his being — this created being is also boundless in potential.

Although for ordinary Jews and chassidim [these two contrary thrusts] may be difficult to feel, this perception must be inherently felt by temimim who are bound to their Nasi, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ. For every one of them must feel that “a tzaddik who departs is to be found in all the worlds more than during his lifetime,” 3 and as the Alter Rebbe explains, 4 this applies “even in this world of action.” For the limitations of place are removed from him. Therefore, as a matter of course, everyone should feel that the Rebbe is found together with him.

With regard to thinking about one’s own situation, there must be designated times when one must do this. In the remainder of the time, however, one should think about the Rebbe: how he is always together with those who are bonded with him and how he leads them at every step and every turn.

This very thought — even without special contemplation — should strengthen all the powers of one’s soul, [inspiring one] to use them in a manner befitting the will of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ.

If other thoughts of secondary importance that run contrary to the above fall into one’s mind, one must realize that this is the counsel of the yetzer [hara], which seeks different techniques to confuse a person [and hold back his involvement in] the Torah and its mitzvos.

The conclusion from the above is that one must feel strong in his trust in the blessings of the tzaddik, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, who is standing over him and leading him in a straight path, provided he does not become broken spirited.

You should recite chapter 71 of Tehillim daily. 5 What is most fundamental is that you must feel it as an absolute given that the Rebbe is together with you and that you can rely on him that everything will be good. For the Essence of the Ein Sof is the ultimate good and the Rebbe is the intermediary that binds you to the Essence of the Ein Sof and carries out His will so that everything will be good. And, ultimately, it will [also] be good in an overt and apparent manner.

With blessings for a kesivah vachasimah tovah and awaiting good news,

Menachem Schneerson