Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1437 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

First day of Rosh Chodesh Adar 5712,

Brooklyn,

I greet and bless you,

I received in due course your letter of Monday of Parshas Yisro. My reply was delayed because of the hilulah* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, its preparations, and what had to be done afterward. May Hashem grant that each of us take upon ourselves the mission that my father-in-law, the Rebbe, entrusted to us, for which he charted the path, that we advance on the path of Torah and mitzvos, without falling victim to the yetzer hara*, which on this path finds means to weaken and to obstruct.

I was pleased to read in your letter that you place all your bitachon* in Hashem. I hope that you will soon see, in concrete form in your affairs, the result of this bitachon.

Nevertheless, to the extent that you rely upon Hashem in the material realm, regarding the means of earning your livelihood, it is clear that the same must apply, and even more so, regarding children and their chinuch*, which matter to a Jew far more than material abundance. Yet I am surprised to find that on this subject you console yourself by saying that your children are better than certain others.

Various sefarim* give an explanation, which you have surely heard, of the expression "in the heavens above and on the earth below"[1]. For all that concerns Heaven, Elokus*, and kedushah*, one must look "upward," considering those who are higher than oneself and rising toward them. In the material realm, on the other hand, one looks "downward," observing those who are lower than oneself. Such an attitude allows one to be content with one's lot, and it is then that one is truly wealthy, as it is said: "Who is wealthy? He who rejoices in his lot."[2]

It is unnecessary to emphasize that the Lubavitch movement in general and I in particular do not aim to deliver mussar* without a precise objective. In fact, I had a twofold intention in writing you these few lines:

A) I wished to strengthen as much as I can your bitachon in Hashem, Who will grant you the means of your sustenance and good health.

B) I also wished to remind you, once again, of what we spoke about when you were here. Continue your efforts toward your children and always speak to them of Torah and mitzvos. "Words emanating from the wise are heeded." How much more so when they are said calmly.

With my brachah* that you convey to me good news,