Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2325 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H,

2 Teves 5714,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I received with pleasure your letter of the second day of Chanukah*, in which you tell me that an examination of your students' knowledge was organized and that the quality of their study could be observed. You also speak of the chassidisher farbrengen* you organized on the 19th and 20th of Kislev.

You say that this farbrengen* was not as pleasant as those that took place previously. You will consult on this subject the explanation given by chapter 27 of Tanya* on the plural employed by the pasuk* "He will make me good dishes." Indeed, there are two kinds of good dishes [1] and one cannot know which is preferred by Hashem and therefore more agreeable for human beings.

But above all, you know the parable expressed on this subject by my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit protects us: The general indicates to the soldier the position he must occupy. If the former is effective, the latter can have the assurance that this place is the best for him, the one that suits him best. To be there is useful to him personally, and also necessary in view of the final victory. This does not mean that the soldier may not aspire to a better place, but as long as he has not obtained it, he must fill himself with immense simchah* in thinking that he is helping the entire country thanks to the mission he assumes. You will understand all that this means.

I hope that one took advantage of the days of Chanukah* in the proper manner, for children as well as for adults, that one reminded them that Yidden* have always been confronted with trials, that these were sometimes even harsher than those we experience today. But by displaying the proper determination, one knows success not only spiritually, but also materially.

You ask me about the manner of teaching [2]. It is clear that the letters and the nekudos* must be learned separately [3]. You know to what extent the gedolei Yisrael* and our masters fought for this, desiring that the children acquire the kedushah* of both.

With my berachah* for success in providing for your material and spiritual needs, in greeting all of yours,

For a certain reason, the dispatch of this letter was delayed and, in the meantime, I have received yours, dated 4 Teves, in which you inform me that you have become aware of the trial you were facing. You therefore went to that village to spread Yiddishkeit* there, although your business affairs are not yet what they should be. I think that, henceforth, they will be able to improve.

If one sends you a trial at the other extreme [4], that is, many customers, I hope that you will succeed in this "examination" as well, and that you will pursue your sacred mission in this village. You will surely know success. And "what the poor man brings to the wealthy man surpasses what the latter gives to the former."

Notes:
(1) Elevation within the realm of holiness, or the struggle against evil.
(2) Of reading to the children.
(3) See on this subject letter no. 103, and the letters of the previous Rebbe, vol. 2, letter no. 616; vol. 7, letter no. 1958; vol. 8, letter no. 2414.
(4) That of commercial success, of wealth.