Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2026 — Teshuvah

By the grace of Hashem,

27 Shevat 5713,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the mutual aid association Shomrei Shabbos*,

and to its directors, the rabbanim, chassidim* who fear Hashem

and devote themselves faithfully to communal needs,

Rav Avraham Sharfstein and

Rav Yochanan Gordon,

Greetings and blessings,

I was satisfied to learn of your positive accomplishments and to receive the brief report of your achievements during this year. All that belongs to the realm of holiness develops. I hope that it will be the same for the scope of your activities during the coming days, so that the Jewish people not undergo poverty, but, on the contrary, see their affairs prosper.

In a sichah* delivered in 5701[1], my father-in-law, the Rebbe, emphasized the great value of gemilus chassadim*[2] as it was practiced by Rav Yisrael, a merchant of Polotsk who was a chassid* of the Tzemach Tzedek*.

Finding himself in Lubavitch on the occasion of Parshas* Vayera[3], Rav Yisrael heard a chassidic maamar* of the Tzemach Tzedek*, in which he explained that our father Avraham was generous physically, financially and morally. This text emphasized that Avraham, by his good deeds, succeeded, while finding himself in this material world, in taking over from the Attribute of Chesed* of the spiritual world of Atzilus*, and concluded from this that Avraham was higher than this Attribute.

Rav Yisrael did not understand the entirety of this maamar*, but he was conquered by these few words. After returning home, he repeated them at a chassidic farbrengen*, then he returned to his shop. Although he did not need money, he borrowed a sum from Rav Nachman, another merchant, in order to offer him the mitzvah* of gemilus chassadim*. Other merchants also learned of the importance of this good deed and borrowed, every day, money one from another.

When Rav Yisrael returned to Lubavitch, the Tzemach Tzedek* called him and asked him for explanations of his conduct. Subsequently, the Rebbe Maharash*[4] asked him why he had questioned Rav Yisrael. The Tzemach Tzedek* replied that he had perceived, in Yisrael the merchant, a column of light issuing from the Attribute of Chesed* of Atzilus*.

Thus, the mitzvah* of gemilus chassadim* is fundamental even when one does not need money. How much more so is it for one who really needs it. The reward for this practice is inestimable. Various texts of our Sages establish it.

I wish, nevertheless, to emphasize a particular aspect of this reward. Obviously, kindness in this world emanates above all from Hashem Himself, Who lends to each of us the strengths of our nefesh elokis*, so that we may carry through the mission entrusted to us in this material and even gross world. Chassidus* explains the profit derived from this Divine kindness. The neshamah* descends here below in order to be able, subsequently, to rise even higher, to a stage with no common measure with that which it leaves.

The loan therefore emanates from Hashem. It is He Who makes available to us all that we need. Now, He also derives a profit from it, if one may so express oneself. The Midrash* says, indeed, that "the Jewish people, when they do the will of Hashem, give Him strength and might." The chassidic maamar* entitled "His accomplishments are positive," which my father-in-law, the Rebbe, delivered on 10 Shevat 5709, explains all this.

I conclude my letter by expressing the wish that each of you, within the Jewish people, carry through the mission entrusted to him here below, in a joyful manner.

With my blessing for success,

You will find enclosed my participation in your work of gemilus chassadim*: a check for one hundred dollars as a donation, and a second check for the same amount as a loan.

Notes

[1] 1941, in Sefer HaSichos 5701, p. 45.

[2] See on this letter no. 2090.

[3] Which deals with our father Avraham.

[4] Son of the Tzemach Tzedek.