Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1830 — Tzedakah

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Elul 5712,

Brooklyn, New York,

Greetings and blessings,

I was happy to learn that you have been named executor of a will and that you are striving, by all means, that the part of the inheritance bequeathed to a yeshivah* be attributed to Yeshivas Lubavitch.

This is an independent institution, in which one studies the revealed part of Torah and Chassidus*, which is the case of no other. It allows, in addition, putting into practice in the best manner the affirmation of our Sages according to which "it is a mitzvah* to abide by the wishes of the deceased."

Indeed, from the moment it is impossible to apply a will in a precise manner, one must try to draw close, to the full extent possible, to the wish expressed by the deceased. As you know, Yeshivas Lubavitch was founded in Russia. It was then transferred to Poland, then settled here. This is well in conformity with the will of the deceased.

It is surely unnecessary to describe to you the great merit which the dissemination of Torah, of its revealed aspect as well as of its profound dimension, represents. You have been named executor of the will, and this means that you merit this title, that you can concretely assume this mission.

I would like to underline two other points.

On the one hand, time has a particular importance when it comes to the study of Torah. Each day which passes can in no way be replaced by another, which itself must receive its own content, its own study.

On the other hand, you are, in this case, only an intermediary, charged with distributing an amount belonging to another person. Despite this, you have the power to realize this distribution as quickly as possible and in a positive manner, or else to make it drag on. The importance and the merit of your intervention are therefore inestimable. And the more quickly you arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, the greater your merit will be.

I will be happy to learn the good news that this will shall be put into application as quickly as possible, even if other persons are also charged with its execution. Indeed, you receive, for this, the help of Hashem, and it is said that "one comes to the aid of him who desires to purify himself."

With my blessing that you be inscribed and sealed for a good year and in expectation of your good news,