Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2939 — Faith & Bitachon
Volume 9 · Letter 323
B"H
19 Elul* 5714,
Brooklyn.
Greetings and blessing,
I duly received your letter of 18 Elul* and I saw with satisfaction that you preserve the memory of your Chassidic* origins and, above all, that you maintain your Jewish practice with the customs of the Chassidim*, even in America.
As you know, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit will protect us, said (see the Igros Kodesh* of the Previous Rebbe, volume 18, letter no. 3713) that the idea according to which America is different from traditional life in Europe is fallacious. The booklet I enclose herewith explains all of this at length.
You speak of public prayer and this is, indeed, a particularly important point. It is clear that the profane words you hear during this public prayer are truly a disturbance. For all that, this does not justify praying alone at home. One must, on the contrary, make use of the influence and the warmth that Hashem confers upon man to convince those around him that one must, in a synagogue, adopt the conduct befitting a sacred place, since this is indeed how one must define it.
Every Jew has, in the depth of his heart, a complete faith and, when one addresses him warmly, one succeeds in convincing him. And, the merit of the many depends upon this.
As you request, I will mention your name and that of your children near the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit will protect us. But, as you know, the practice is to mention the Jewish name, as well as that of the mother (whenever one solicits a blessing). You will therefore write me these names and, subsequently, I will do so with joy.
As the new year approaches, I wish you to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year.
With my blessing for a good year,
N.B.: I notice, on the envelope, that you are the secretary of an association of those originating from a certain city. I hope that you are using your influence to strengthen the Torah and the mitzvos* there. Indeed, "to whoever adds (efforts), there is added (blessings)."