Igrot Kodesh · Letter 3943 — Health
Volume 12 · Letter 138 · To: même titre que les biens matériels dont on dispose.
B"H
9 Kislev 5716
Brooklyn
Greetings and blessings,
I am responding to your letter of 1 Kislev.
I hope that upon receipt of this letter, your physical health will be better, in the most literal sense, which depends on Hashem. Thus, you will be able to improve and progress in all that concerns moral health, which is delivered into the hands of men, in accordance with the statement of our Sages that "everything is in the hands of Heaven, except the fear of Heaven."
You know the saying of the Alter Rebbe* (see Igros Kodesh, Letters #3616, 4234), whose liberation we will soon celebrate on 19 Kislev, according to which Hashem grants Jews material goods and they transform them into spirituality. This does not allude solely to financial earnings, but also, more profoundly, to the body and the animal soul, which one receives from Hashem (in the same way as material goods). He therefore ensures that these are physically whole. Thereupon, the Jews can transform them into spirituality.
The Rambam* writes that "having a healthy and whole body is among the ways of Hashem." More precisely, the holy Tanya* says, at the beginning of chapter 47 (this reference does not appear clearly in the copy of this letter that has reached us), that one must "serve Hashem with one's body." This idea is illustrated by the statement of our holy master (see Igros Kodesh, Letter #3933) according to which the love of Hashem is linked to the love of one's fellow. Consequently, one must invite those around one to follow this path as well.
One must therefore not say to oneself: "Who am I and what am I to accomplish all of this?" As you know, the Heavenly Court, considering the self-sacrifice for Chassidus* that the Alter Rebbe* displayed, ruled that those who are connected to him and follow his path would prevail in all that concerns the Torah*, the fear of Hashem, and good conduct (see Igros Kodesh, Letters #3429, 3935).
I send you my blessing for good health and ample livelihood, for good tidings regarding all of this, and also regarding the state of health of your son, who accompanied you when you visited me.