Igrot Kodesh · Letter 5260 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

9 Adar Sheini* 5717,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letters of 16 and 28 Adar Rishon*, in which you describe your negotiations with the representatives and presidents of the synagogues.

You ask me about the microphone (see note 1).

It is quite evident that it is an absolute prohibition (see note 2) to use it in the synagogue — not only during Shabbos*, but also during the festivals. This is, in this case, a public act performed in the Palace of the King, the synagogue. It is therefore out of the question to use a microphone.

How should this be presented to the synagogue representatives? Everything depends on which method is the quickest to convince them to abandon this plan. Sometimes it may be a firm demand. Other times, one must proceed in the opposite manner — explaining in a pleasant way the harm that can result, both outside of Eretz Yisrael* and in our Holy Land. Indeed, the synagogue and those who pray there will thereby be considered as affiliated with the Reform movement, which opposes the Torah* and the Mitzvos*.

Even if one acts in the first manner (see note 3), it is preferable to have a prior informal conversation with the leaders, so that they themselves also support this viewpoint during their meetings.

No doubt you will take advantage of the approaching days of Purim* to spread the wellsprings (see note 4) to the outside, and you are preparing for this in the proper manner. Indeed, several texts underscore its importance, in particular the Tikkunei Zohar*, according to which "Kippurim* is like Purim*" (see note 5).

May Hashem grant that you experience immense success and that barriers and obstacles disappear — especially since our Torah* says of this entire month that "it was transformed" into joy and celebration (Esther* 9:1).

Now, the meaning of this transformation is as follows: this month is capable of changing what, at first, was not a visible and tangible good into joy and celebration, which one can observe with one's own eyes of flesh.

With my blessing for success,

Notes

(1) Its use during Shabbos*.

(2) See, on this subject, letter no. 427 and the Teshuvos U'Biurim*, Kehot* editions 5747 (1987), at page 144.

(3) By a firm demand.

(4) Of Chassidus*.

(5) Yom Kippur* is only compared to Purim* — implying that Purim* is greater.