Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7709 — Tzedakah

By the grace of Hashem,

22 Tammuz* 5721,

Brooklyn,

I greet you and bless you,

I have not had news from you for a very long time. Then, these days, I received your greetings through the intermediary of the distinguished young man, Shmuel Pesach Bogomilski, who furthermore told me that he is awaiting a letter from you. May Hashem grant that it have a positive content, which will be, in the expression of our Sages*, "good for the heavens and good for the creatures," "a good that produces fruit," as we discussed when you came here. Thus, not only will this good be for yourself, since "there is no good other than the Torah*," but moreover, it will influence the creatures who are near you and will confer upon them the good as well.

We are "between the straits" (note 1: Between the 17th of Tammuz* and the 9th of Av*) and, as our Sages* relate, one of the reasons for the destruction (note 2: Of the Temple) was "gratuitous hatred" (note 3: Without cause). To repair such a situation, it is fitting to fill oneself with love for the one who, in the eyes of our flesh, does not at all justify that one feel such a sentiment toward him, and to seek the satisfaction of his needs as well. It is in this way that one will hasten the fulfillment of the promise of the prophet Zechariah*, stated in the verse Zechariah* 8:19, according to which the days found "between the straits" "will be transformed into gladness, joy, and festival" (note 4: See the preceding letter). With my blessing to give good tidings of all this,