Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7623 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

11 Nissan* 5721,

Brooklyn, New York,

To our brethren, the children of Israel, wherever they may be, may Hashem grant them long life,

I greet you extensively and bless you,

The Exodus from Egypt, the central point of the festival of Pesach*, occupies a predominant place (note 1: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "According to the terms of the Sefer HaChinuch*, at Mitzvah* no. 21: 'It is a great foundation, a mighty pillar of our Torah* and our faith.' One will consult this text") in Jewish life, both for the community and for the individual. This event delivers a teaching to Jews and guides them, not only through its global message, but also through its specific aspects. In this case, one of the fundamental aspects of the Exodus from Egypt is the immense trust in Hashem (note 2: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "Yirmiyahu* 2:2 and commentaries on this verse. Mechilta* on the verse Shemos* 12:39. See also the Zohar*, volume 3, page 168b") and in His Providence* that was then expressed. Indeed, an entire people, numbering millions of persons (note 3: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel on the verses Shemos* 12:37-38 and the Mechilta*, at the same reference"), men, women, and children, suddenly left an inhabited land, in which it was possible to satisfy all one's material needs, and they undertook a long journey, without provisions, without any reserves, relying solely, but relying fully, on the words of Moshe*, our master, in the Name of Hashem.

Moreover, at the time of the Exodus from Egypt, they did not take the well-known path, which was also the shortest, that of the land of the Philistines. Admittedly, one ran there the risk of having to wage war, and in such a situation, doubt always exists: will one obtain victory? And, even if this is not the case, it remains possible that some persons may survive this war. In this case, however, they went into an arid desert (note 4: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "'Great and fearsome, with serpents, reptiles, scorpions, and thirst, where there is no water,' according to the verse Devarim* 8:15. See Midrash Shemos* Rabbah, chapter 24, paragraph 4, and the Zohar*, volume 2, page 157a"), in which they had no means whatsoever of preserving life.

And, once again, the sole element leading them to adopt such conduct was the instruction to this effect that had been received from Moshe*, in the Name of Hashem. All of this is even more surprising if one considers that beforehand, the children of Israel had lived in the same place for two hundred and ten years. They had not moved at all. Moreover, they were in Goshen, a province of Egypt, which possessed the best and most fertile arable land (note 5: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See tractate Sotah* 34b, the verse Bereishis* 47:6, and the Zohar*, volume 1, from page 108b"). Indeed, it did not depend on rain, since one could establish with certainty that the floods of the Nile would irrigate it. Such a country was entirely based on the laws of nature, on its principles and its conditions.

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Since "the days of your departure from Egypt" (note 6: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "From the time of the Exodus from Egypt until the future redemption, very soon and in our days, Amen, the days of 'your departure from the land of Egypt' continue, according to the beginning of the Chassidic* discourse entitled: 'As in the days of your departure from Egypt,' of 5708"), from the moment the children of Israel left that country, the principle that has just been stated — that of absolute trust in the Providence* of Hashem, Who directs all things, even in daily existence, in conformity with His Will, despite human reasoning and natural laws — has been the companion and guide of Jews, individually or communally, at all times.

This provides the answer to the question that is posed by the non-Jewish world, or that is addressed by those elements distant from Judaism, within the Jewish people, to those who observe the Torah* and the Mitzvos*: "We live in a world of competition, within which it is necessary to struggle to ensure one's survival. Each person finds himself in a certain country, subject to various conditions. How, then, can one not prostrate oneself before the masters of the land, whether it be the dollar or the fear of being different from one's neighbors? How can one not serve them? Why bind oneself to six hundred and thirteen Mitzvos* that 'complicate' and disturb man's accomplishments and work, in each of his endeavors, at every step?"

The answer to this question is the following: one must leave Egypt. Indeed, as has been said, the children of Israel, leaving that country, conformed to the teachings of Hashem, without taking into account the conditions imposed upon them by the situation. They knew how to detach themselves from the behaviors they had adopted in Egypt for two hundred and ten years. And, this was precisely the path that led them to true happiness, not only in the spiritual domain, by receiving the Torah* and becoming the chosen people of Hashem (note 7: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Shulchan Aruch* of the Alter Rebbe*, section Orach Chaim*, chapter 60, paragraph 4, but one may question this, on this subject, if one considers chapter 46 of the Tanya*"), but also materially, by obtaining the "land flowing with milk and honey."

It is the same at the present time, as it has always been the case and whatever the past may have been. For every Jew as for the entire people of Israel, the sole and unique path leading to true happiness is a daily life, an existence in general, in conformity with the Torah*, with its Mitzvos*, concerning which it is said: "One shall live with them" and by them (note 8: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the commentary of the Ramban* on the verse Vayikra* 18:5").

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Jews have received the following Injunction: "In all your ways, know Him" (note 9: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Tur* and Shulchan Aruch*, section Orach Chaim*, chapter 231"). In everything he accomplishes, during the twenty-four hours of the day, a Jew receives the teachings of the Torah* and he must put them into practice. He can therefore, at any moment, be confronted with the question stated above. It is precisely for this reason that each person receives the following Injunction (note 10: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Shulchan Aruch* of the Alter Rebbe*, chapter 67"): "You shall remember the day of your departure from Egypt, all the days of your life." Such a remembrance guides, illuminates, and gives the strength to adopt conduct that makes each day a Jewish day, full of life. As my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, emphasizes (note 11: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "According to the talks of the festival of Pesach* 5703"): "The festival of Pesach* illuminates and is revealed, not only each day, but also permanently." With my blessing for a Kosher* and joyous festival of Pesach*,

Menachem Schneerson,