Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4600 — Chinuch

B"H

5 Menachem Av 5716

Brooklyn

I greet you and bless you.

I respond to your letter, in which you tell me that you were unable to participate in the Chassidic gathering* of the propitious days of 12 and 13 Tammuz (see note 1).

Everything is an effect of Divine Providence*, as established by the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov* and, more broadly, by Chassidus*. It is also explained there, with many details, that one can derive from everything a lesson to be applied in the service of Hashem. The same is true in this matter. In general, how can someone prevent his fellow from participating in such a gathering? In fact, even if this person asserts his will to obstruct him, such a situation is generally possible only because the one whom they wish to prevent does not himself have a strong desire to participate. Or perhaps this desire is not pure.

In such a case, secondary motivations (see note 2) intervene in a person's will. From that point, it becomes possible for someone to intervene in order to prevent this participation and even to succeed in doing so. This is the first point.

There is also a second. Various Chassidic texts explain that the concealment affecting the will of the domain of Holiness* must call forth a more intense thirst to satisfy it. In this way, one can transform those who until now have been obstacles, making them aware of the importance and sanctity of what is sought.

The same applies here. The fact of not participating in this gathering — whose purpose is to deepen one's love of Torah*, one's love of Hashem, and one's love of one's fellow — must arouse an increased ardor in the study of Torah, in the observance of mitzvos* in the best possible manner.

The purpose of the concealment is to provoke the desire to invest oneself fully in all the domains mentioned. In this way, the position of that which disturbs this will is modified. To prepare for this, one must, quite simply, study more and fulfill the mitzvos in a better way. May Hashem grant you success.

You mention the possibility of continuing your studies at the Lubavitch Yeshiva* in New York. You should ask the administration of the Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim* in Montreal (see note 3) to make contact with the yeshiva here, in order to verify whether this is a good proposal.

Surely you strive to recite Tehillim* each day after prayer, according to their monthly division.

With my blessing,

For the Rebbe Shlita*,

the secretary

Notes:

(1) Someone having prevented him from doing so.

(2) Extraneous to what should be his true objective — the service of Hashem.

(3) Of which the recipient of this letter is a student.