This letter was sent to a young man whose name was not released.

ב"ה,
22 Iyar, 5711,
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings and blessings,

…[You write that you] began thinking of traveling here so that you could study in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim and be among the chassidim. In my opinion, it is not advisable to hurry to take such a step. [Instead,] it is advisable to continue your work in gardening or [take] another job involving physical labor and, in your free time, establish fixed times for Torah study, studying yourself and endeavoring to spread the Torah in your surroundings. For “there is none among us who knows until when…”1 (both with regard to the issue itself and with regard to the person involved). [Who can know] whether it will be [better for you] to be in an environment of chassidim and absorb its [influence] or to be involved in fulfilling the mission of spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus outward even though it appears that, as a result, your knowledge of the Torah and conduct in the paths of chassidim and Chassidism will suffer? The dilemma becomes even greater in light of the explanation in [Tanya,] Iggeres HaKodesh, Epistle 9, that in our generation, [man’s] fundamental Divine service should be expressed in the area of charity.2

It is self-understood that you should not despair, Heaven forbid and Heaven forbid, of ever journeying here. Instead, [the intent is that] at the present time, it is desirable and appropriate for you to participate in the development of the yeshivah in your place in a manner appropriate for your potential and powers. You should strengthen your health as is necessary through work in the garden and the like until you are completely healthy.

Enclosed is [a transcript of] a sichah delivered on Yud-Gimmel Shvat3 from which you will see what was spoken about at the time of the farbrengen then with regard to each person’s [efforts to seek] personal fulfillment. This is dependent on the person’s own situation and standing. Not always is it possible to learn what is appropriate for one person from his friend’s example.

With blessing and with greetings to your entire brotherhood,