Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5252 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

5 Adar Sheini* 5717,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter of this Thursday, in which you speak about yourself, your study of the Torah* and your fear of Hashem. You conclude by asking me for a blessing.

You know the explanation of my father-in-law, the Rebbe (see note 1), regarding the expression "rains of blessing." He emphasizes that the blessing is like rain, which produces fruit only after one has plowed and planted.

The same is true in the spiritual domain. One must first plow — that is, submit oneself — then plant, by studying with ardor and constancy, by adopting good conduct, by putting the Mitzvos* into practice. Then the blessing produces abundant fruit — Torah* and the fear of Hashem.

If you put into practice what has just been said, I am convinced that there will be fulfilled for you the promise of our Sages, according to which "one who makes efforts will see them crowned with success."

In every matter, Hashem's help is necessary. It would therefore be good, each weekday before the morning prayer, to give a few cents to tzedakah*. To the fullest extent possible, you will strive to perform the Mitzvos* in the best manner. And you will influence your friends to adopt the same conduct.

It is surely unnecessary to remind you of the teaching of the Mishnah*, in the third chapter of tractate Avos*, according to which one who wishes his wisdom to endure — meaning, of course, the wisdom of the Torah* — must cause it to be preceded by his fear of Hashem (see note 2). Now, it is fitting, each day anew, to study the Torah*, since each morning one recites, once again, the blessing over the Torah*. Likewise, each day, the fear of Hashem must manifest itself first.

In our days especially, fear and love of Hashem can be far easier and deeper, thanks to the study of Chassidus*, which includes Mussar* within it, as explained at length in the Kuntres Toras HaChassidus* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.

One also finds an allusion to this in the Laws of Torah Study, chapter 2, paragraph 2: "How does one attain love and fear of Him? By meditating... by observing the wisdom... by experiencing a profound desire to know His great Name... to fear Him."

May Hashem grant that you accomplish all of this with success and that you give me good news of it.

With my blessing,

For the Rebbe Shlita*,
the secretary,

Notes

(1) See, on this subject, letter no. 2290.

(2) The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Avos of Rabbi Noson*, at the beginning of chapter 22."