Igrot Kodesh · Letter 3761 — Health

With the help of Hashem

11 Elul* 5715

Brooklyn

Blessings and greetings (1),

I received with satisfaction your letter of 8 Elul. You tell me that you are feeling much better. May Hashem grant that you be fully restored — not only that the doctor tells you so, but that you yourself feel it.

Obviously, you must take your vitamins, and if the doctor prescribes a dietary regimen, you must comply with it. Indeed, the Jewish body is holy, and by saying "Heal, he shall heal," the Torah* makes the physician His emissary in this domain.

You mention fasts (2). I have never heard of such a practice, except in exceptional cases — apart, of course, from those mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch* (3), and only insofar as the doctor considers them not to be dangerous.

It is preferable, instead of fasting, to forgo other practices one might wish to adopt — for example, uttering unnecessary words or, worse still, speaking ill of others. This disturbs the evil inclination* far more than a fast, without jeopardizing one's health. In this way, one has more strength to fulfill the mitzvos*, to perform tzedakah* and acts of kindness in particular.

May Hashem assist you, so that you can announce good news to me regarding all of this.

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

For the Rebbe Shlita*,

(1) This letter, written in Yiddish, is addressed to a woman.
(2) See, on this subject, Letter #3399.
(3) The public fasts.