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