Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2194 — Health

B"H,

7 Menachem Av 5713,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

Although I do not receive letters from you, I am pleased to have, from time to time, news of you through good friends. May Hashem grant that you may always be able to send me good news concerning yourself, both material and spiritual.

I have heard that certain market conditions are not evolving as the merchants would have wished. Without doubt, one must see in this a test that Hashem sends to Yidden*. Of course, He knows that a Jewish heart is always awake, desirous of fulfilling Torah and mitzvos*. Nevertheless, He must convince of this the angels of the heavenly court, who refuse to believe it.

When a Jew overcomes the test, Hashem therefore says to them: "See! The yetzer hara* could have convinced this Jew to give less tzedakah*, since his affairs are no longer what they were. But Yidden are wise and they understand that one wishes thereby to test them."

When they overcome the test and understand its meaning, the Yidden recover the business they had before. Even more, it improves. For a father is satisfied when his son knows how to decipher the deeper meaning of his actions. The more the son shows his wisdom, the more important are the gifts he receives from his father.

Merchants say that one gains skill with age. You yourself have been a merchant for a very long time, and you will therefore know how to decipher the message of Hashem in the situation described above. In a good investment, whether it is a hotel or a commercial enterprise, the share of Hashem must not be diminished. Even more, one must give generously on His account. Then He fulfills the promise He states in the Torah: "Take a tithe in order to become wealthy," and He grants His partner revenues much greater than before.

I hope that your state of health has improved since your last visit to New York and that you will be able to send me good news also about your sister.

With my blessing,