This letter was addressed to R. Shlomo Zalman Hecht, the shaliach in Chicago.

B”H, 7 Elul, 5706

Greetings and blessings,

In response to your letter....

I called you, and at the order of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, asked you to come to New York for a day or two. Since [the visit] came about because of my initiative, it is my responsibility to cover the expenses. If you have not been reimbursed as of yet, please inform me.

Certainly, you will continue your efforts [to find] donors for the distribution of the Shelah pamphlets among those with whom you have already spoken about the matter. And when one increases [his efforts], he is granted increased [blessings].1

Although it is explained — Likkutei Torah, Parshas Ki Seitzei, commenting on the phrase,2 “and she shall shave,” and at length in Derech Mitzvosecha, mitzvas tiglachas metzora — that excessive efforts are superfluous and indeed, detrimental; this applies with regard to earning one’s livelihood. For, as explained in those sources, the rationale is that one’s sustenance is predetermined.3 With regard to matters involving the Torah and its mitzvos, this does not apply, as is evident.

With the blessing “Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,”

Menachem M. Schneerson