Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2864 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H

18 Menachem Av 5714,
Brooklyn, New York.

Greetings and blessing,

I reply to your letter of 10 Menachem Av. I am surprised to read therein that the difference between last year and this year surpasses the natural order, and the context of your letter allows one to establish that you do not write these words in the sense of good (i.e., this year is infinitely harder than the previous one).

In my opinion, if you observe your state of health and the fact that your wife is expecting, at a good and fruitful moment, you will agree that your situation indeed surpasses the natural order, but, thank Hashem, entirely in the sense of good.

Momentarily, the amount on deposit in your bank account may happen to be smaller. For all that, there is in this no concrete loss and even less a lack concerning children, health or prosperity.

Our Sages state, in tractate Sotah 48b, that one who has the means to satisfy his needs for the day and worries about those of the morrow has but little faith. This being so, what is there to say when one possesses the money one needs not only for the morrow, but also for the entire month and perhaps even for several years, yet one is nonetheless worried about what will happen at the end of these few years?

The amount deposited in the bank diminishes and one then worries even more about what will happen in a few years. And, one forgets that all of this has no real value, is in no way comparable to health or to the fulfillment of the wishes of one's heart. There is in this a terrible concealment!

Obviously, my aim is not to moralize. However, it is a pity and painful to observe that someone who has every reason to be joyful — not only in the spiritual domain, but also materially, not only through his soul, but also through his body, not only through his Divine soul, but also through his animal soul — makes the choice to be worried, wondering how He Who nourishes every being with kindness and mercy will act in a few years, in what manner He will satisfy his needs and those of the members of his family.

We are already in the joyful days (since Tishah BeAv has passed) and, according to the expression of the Zohar*, Yisro, page 78b, "from the 10th of Av, Esav disappears and one finds him no more." May the concealment and the attractions exerted by the domain of Esav therefore also disappear, so that they are found no more. Then, one will serve Hashem "with all your heart," with a complete heart, with the two Beis (of the word levavecha, your heart, which allude to the two inclinations, the good and the evil, both of which must be in the service of Hashem), as it is said: "Serve Hashem in joy."

With my blessing,