Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1590 — Tzedakah

By the grace of Hashem,

26 Iyar 5712,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I have learned with pleasure, from chassidim* residing in the Holy Land, that you have visited that country. I hope that you will make use of your visit in our Holy Land in the most positive manner.

In my opinion, it is particularly useful for you to make the necessary inquiries with a view to marrying. No doubt you have friends there. In the expression of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, all chassidim* form one and the same family. I am therefore convinced that the chassidim* on the spot will help you in this domain and in others, to the full extent of their means. If you invest in the matter all the necessary energy, Hashem will let you know success.

I assume that there is no need to remind you of the meaning of the name Eretz Yisrael*. The Jews are not the only ones who call it thus. All the nations do likewise and speak of the Holy Land. Our holy Torah states that "toward it the eyes of Hashem are turned, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year." This means that, however close to Hashem one may be outside Eretz Yisrael*, one must nevertheless feel a considerably increased proximity of Hashem the moment one finds oneself in this country.

One who finds himself in a place of great luminosity may close his eyes and not wish to reopen them in order to verify that the light is still present. He will then claim to be in darkness, but this will diminish nothing of the brightness of the place. So it is, then, with Eretz Yisrael*. The eyes of the soul may not be wholly open, for various reasons. But this changes nothing of the reality. It is indeed a country toward which "always, the eyes of Hashem are turned."

When one has the merit to find oneself even closer to the Holy One, blessed be He, it is certain that one's soul draws from this an increased strength to put into practice, in daily life, all good resolutions. When one is in Eretz Yisrael*, one can attain all the practices that one had considered inaccessible, and one realizes that this is much easier than what one had previously imagined. Not only does nothing negative result from it, chas veshalom*, but one may even find oneself helped by it in all one's needs.

Obviously, my purpose is not to make speeches, but to encourage concrete action. None of us is perfect and whole; everyone experiences shortcomings in certain domains of the Torah and the mitzvos*. Very often, one finds means of self-justification. One explains that one must take into account the necessity of earning one's livelihood, the neighbors, one's own body.

Nevertheless, when one meditates, even for a brief moment, one understands that Hashem has created the entire world and man, that He awaits such conduct from him, and that He cannot await a deed from him if He has not given him the means to carry it out. Everything therefore depends only on the man himself.

One also understands that Hashem, Who is the very Essence of good, will not ask of man to do what will cause him harm. Conversely, one who puts into practice the command of Hashem does not render Him a service. It is clear that nothing is lacking to Him, and He has no need of the kindnesses of men. It is, in fact, a benefit for the man himself, who, in acting thus, knows happiness both materially and spiritually.

One who adopts the conduct enjoined by Hashem will be truly happy and, as I have said, even if it appears that this is difficult, it is in reality only a test that one will be able to overcome with the appropriate effort. Moreover, one will rejoice in this test, which will allow one to act, thereafter, in a more pleasant and satisfying manner.

In these days, we are preparing, together with the entire Jewish people, to celebrate the festival of Shavuos*, the time of the giving of our Torah. We must therefore engrave in our memory that the proclamation of the people of Israel at the time of this giving was: "We shall do, and (then) we shall understand." Each one must be able, at the present time, to take the same commitment. It is the means, for each of us, of knowing a positive and happy existence, materially and spiritually.

Wishing you success in the domains that concern you and that you may announce to me good news on this matter,