Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1576 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

24 Iyar 5712,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter of 16 Iyar, in which you inform me that a doctor has told your wife that her body is not capable of withstanding a pregnancy.

You should not be alarmed by this. There are hundreds, thousands of cases in which doctors arrive at the same conclusion, and one nevertheless witnesses the birth of healthy children. Consequently, if these doctors propose a treatment — for example a medicinal one — that is not too aggressive, you will conform to their prescriptions. By contrast, operations and other forceful interventions are to be set aside.

Hashem will help you, and at the proper time — that is, in a short while, I hope — you and your wife will receive the blessing of having a child.

You are familiar with the letter of the Alter Rebbe*[1], which is already published, according to which a good means of having children is to study a part of the Torah that leads to loving Hashem and fearing Him, that is, Chassidus*. You should therefore set up a fixed study of Chassidus* with one of your neighbors, at least three times per week, so that three days do not pass without your learning it. Obviously, one of these three times will be Shabbos. The two others will be set at your convenience.

Your wife has no doubt adopted the positive practice of Jewish women of giving tzedakah* for Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess[2] each time she lights the candles, on the eve of Shabbos and the festivals. You should also ask her to be scrupulous in covering her hair.

If both of you observe all this, I am hopeful that you will soon announce to me good news — namely that your wife is expecting a child — so that I may convey it at the tziyun* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.

With my blessing, to you and to your wife, for a joyous festival of Shavuos* and that you announce to me good news,