Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2231 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H,

16 Elul 5713,

Brooklyn,

To the distinguished chassid who fears Hashem
and devotes himself to communal needs,
Rav Elchanan HaKohen[1],

Greetings and blessings,

I received with pleasure your letter of 24/8, in which you tell me that our mutual friend is doing a little better. One must hope that he will continue to do all that depends on him. Then Hashem will cause him to do much better.

I hope that the cheque he is sending[2] is not a one-time donation. Indeed, I recall having emphasized to him that, as far as he is concerned, the amount matters little. It is necessary, above all, that he contribute to tzedakah* every weekday.

It is clear that one cannot be satiated today by a meal one consumed last week. And so it is for the food of the neshamah*. Certain actions can be accomplished one time and be sufficient for a long period. One can cite, in this regard, in the human environment, a house or clothing. By contrast, one must eat each day, and one day's meal is of no use for the next.

The same holds for what concerns Torah and mitzvos*. Certain mitzvos must be put into practice once and are then sufficient for a long period. This is the case of the mitzvah of sounding the shofar*[3], which is, according to the interpretation of our Sages, the means of proclaiming the kingship of HaKadosh Baruch Hu*. And it suffices to do it one single time for the entire year.

By contrast, the study of Torah and giving to tzedakah, at least in small amounts, must be daily practices, even if distinctions can, here too, be made. Thus, before Rosh Hashanah*, or in a moment of distress, chas veshalom*, or again when one meets a person who is particularly in need, one must indeed lose all proportion. But one is not exempt for that reason from giving also, the next day, then each following day, a smaller amount, without making a vow.

You will forgive me for saying all this in such crude terms, but, psychologically, the act of writing down an idea or speaking it allows one to clarify it for oneself as well. I hope that our friend, even if he is impatient[4], will nevertheless give a certain amount to tzedakah each day, and will not content himself with giving a more substantial sum thereafter.

When Dr. Nissan Mindel[5] returns from vacation, I will write with pleasure to our friend, in order to wish him mazal tov for the engagement of his son. I thank you warmly for being willing to take charge of this, but, as I said, I would like to write to him in English.

With my blessing that you be inscribed and sealed for a good year,

[1] Rav E. Kowen. See, regarding him, letter no. 458.
[2] For tzedakah.
[3] On Rosh Hashanah.
[4] To give a substantial contribution to tzedakah.
[5] The secretary of the Rebbe, in charge of his English-language correspondence.