This letter was sent to R. Shmuel Levine of Baltimore.

ב"ה,
16 Iyar, 5711,
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings and blessings,

I was happy — finally — to hear greetings from you from the chassidic communal leader R. Eliyahu Simpson and [to learn] that you spent the time discussing memories from bygone days, the days of light, when you were in the walls and rooms of the yeshivah, Tomchei Temimim, in Lubavitch.

You are certainly familiar with the adage my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe זצוקללה"ה, נבג"ם, זי"ע, would repeat in the name of the Baal Shem Tov: Everything that happens to a Jew is ordained by Divine providence. Nothing happens merely by coincidence.

The fact that G‑d brought you two together and that you shared a brotherly interchange positively affected not only R. Eliyahu Simpson, but also yourself. The proof of this is that it motivated you to come closer to the source of life for all Jews: the Torah and its mitzvos.

Those who had the merit to become aware of the light of Chassidus and also the conduct in the paths of Chassidus feelwarmth in doing a favor for another Jew and also feel the warmth that results from studying a passage from Chumash, from Ein Yaakov1 or the Talmud, or from Tanya and other chassidic texts. All of these activities, [even] when performed [but] once, leave an impression on one’s entire life. It depends only on one’s will. If one desires, he can surely accomplish it.

Enclosed is a sichah from Lag BaOmer2 delivered by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe זצוקללה"ה, נבג"ם, זי"ע, which has recently been printed. Reading the sichah will surely awaken many good feelings.

I hope to hear good news from you. I conclude with blessings for you and the members of your household,