Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2145 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

24 Sivan 5713,

Brooklyn,

I bless and greet you[1],

I received your regards through the Rav, distinguished chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, Rav Shmuel Dovid HaLevi Reitchik, emissary of the Sages[2]. He also writes to me that your son is currently performing his military service.

It is surely unnecessary to remind you of what you must remember and explain to him, namely the necessity of putting Torah* and mitzvos* into practice to the full extent that this is necessary for a Jew, in general, and for one who finds himself in the army, in particular.

It is particularly important that he put on tefillin* every weekday, at least for a few minutes, during the course of the day, until sunset. This practice is favorable for one who finds himself in the army. It enables him to return home, whole and in good health, as my father-in-law, the Rebbe, may his merit protect us, recalled many times.

Baruch Hashem*, all those who, finding themselves in the army during the last war, followed the directive of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, and put on tefillin* each day, indeed returned home whole and in good health.

In general, one does not practice Torah* and mitzvos* in order to do Hashem a favor, but rather in one's own interest, for one's family and for all those around one.

I hope that you will know how to find the words that will allow you to explain all this to your son and to convince him, for his own good. May Hashem grant that you succeed in this easily and be able to report to me good news on this matter.

With my brachah*,

For the Rebbe shlita*,

the secretary,

P.S.: I enclose for you a message[3] written, in its time, by my father-in-law, the Rebbe, for those who were in the army.

Notes

[1] This letter is addressed to a woman.

[2] In California.

[3] See, on this subject, letter no. 101.