Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2337 — Grief & Loss

B"H,

8 Teves 5714,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I took note with horror of what happened [1]. You must help him to attain teshuvah*. But it is necessary to take precautions at both extremes [2]. He must not, in this way, think that what happened is not so serious. Nevertheless, teshuvah* must be within his reach [3].

One must not tighten the rein more than is measured, but one must specify to him that one does not apply to his case all the severity that would have been necessary, for one who devotes himself to the study of Torah [4] must not be physically weakened, which would have the effect of reducing his study and his ardor. The Iggeres HaTeshuvah* explains all this briefly, as do many other sefarim*.

In anticipation of your good news,

Notes:
(1) The aveirah* committed by someone who emitted seed in vain.
(2) Not to lead him to think that his aveirah is irremediable, and not to make him believe that it is not serious.
(3) See on this subject letter no. 2503.
(4) Presumably within the framework of a yeshivah.

ב'שלז

ב"ה, ח' טבת, תשי"ד
ברוקלין.

שלום וברכה!

...נבהלתי למ"ש אודות המאורע... מהנכון הי' שיסדר בשביל הנ"ל ענין של תשובה אבל להשמר משני הקצוות שע"י סדר זה לא יקל בעיניו הדבר אבל לאידך גיסא שיהי' לפי כחו, ניט איבערציהען די סטרונע, ולהסביר לו שאין מחמירים כפי הצורך מפני שהעוסק בתורה אסור לו להחליש גופו כיון שעי"ז יחליש ג"כ הלימוד וההתמדה וכמבואר בקיצור נמרץ באגה"ת ובכמה ספרים...

המחכה לבשו"ט.

ב'שלז
ענין של תשובה: בהמשך לזה - לקמן אגרת ב'תקג.