Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8136 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

14 MarCheshvan* 5718,

Brooklyn,

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself

to communal needs, Rav Baruch (note 1: Rav B. Levitin. See, regarding him, letter no. 6764),

I greet you and bless you,

I received your letter in its time and I acknowledged receipt in my good year correspondence, during the weeks of the month of Tishrei*, then the first that followed. In a general manner, it is possible to respond only to letters that have an impact on concrete action. This is why the response to your objections regarding the situation of Judaism in the United States has been somewhat delayed. Indeed, it is not directly linked to concrete action. In fact, the most general response that can be given is the following. All these objections do not exempt any of those who are capable of acting from doing so. Moreover, if the other does nothing or not as much as would be necessary, this does not authorize one to imitate him. It is even the opposite that is true. If the other does not act and if I notice it, this is proof that I must also assume his role, since I am capable of it. Of course, this does not apply solely to you, but also to me, within all of Israel. For all that, you are directly concerned in this case.

You write, at the end of your letter, that you are tired. I have already written to someone that this is not the time for that. This is conceivable during quiet moments, when one goes for a walk, reads the newspapers. It is then that one can allow oneself to be tired, to do nothing. On the other hand, in a country like America, where the Jewish community is the most important, one does not have time to be tired. Where does one find the strength? The answer to this question is the following. Each time Hashem asks for an accomplishment, He grants the necessary strengths to carry it out. Only the order of things changes. Sometimes, one first receives the strengths and then acts, while at other times, the opposite is true and one must first act, the strengths manifesting themselves afterward. But one must not take the trouble to ask what comes first. One must seize the moment by investing oneself in the work or in its organization, with all one's concentration. In this way, one discovers within oneself more strength than one imagined at the outset, as the letter I addressed to all on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah* (note 2: This is letter no. 5771) explains.

I was satisfied that a Melaveh Malkah* meal was organized at your home. May Hashem grant that such celebrations and others be soon held in your presence. With my blessing for giving good news,