Igrot Kodesh · Letter 955 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,
21 Adar Sheni 5711,
Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

I learned with sorrow, from your husband, the Rav, distinguished chassid* who has yiras Shamayim*, who dedicates himself to communal needs and multiplies positive accomplishments, Rav ..., that you are discouraged and have difficulty pulling yourself together after the misfortune that has painfully struck you.

In general, all Jews, men or women, are "believers, sons of believers." In other words, all have faith and even understand intellectually that Hashem, and only He, leads the world.

The Jews also believe, with perfect faith, that Hashem is the perfection of perfection.

You are no doubt familiar with the explanation of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, which he cited in the name of the Baal Shem Tov. He specifies that every Jew, man or woman, is cherished by Hashem like a father loves his only son. In fact, His love is even more intense, but we put forward this metaphor because we are incapable of imagining a love more intense than that.

One can deduce from what has just been said that everything that Hashem does is for the good. He wishes to make it available to the Jews, not only in the spiritual dimension but also materially. It follows that this good is not only moral, but also physical.

As I said, all Jews have faith in this and even understand it through their intellect.

Nevertheless, it can sometimes happen that this idea remains at the stage of faith and understanding, without being felt by the heart. One then concludes that certain situations must provoke discouragement and sadness, chas v'shalom*. The event is then perceived in accordance with this idea, whereas in reality it too is for the good, but this aspect escapes reason.

Likewise, it is sometimes possible that the purpose of this situation, responsible for the bad impression — which is the perfection of good — also remains hidden from the eyes of men and is even completely concealed.

On the other hand, when one makes an effort upon one's own person, when one concentrates to introduce faith and intellectual perception into the feeling of the heart, to understand that it can be no other way, one tells oneself that everything that Hashem does is necessarily an evident good.

The Divine reward, in fact, is "measure for measure," in accordance with what man accomplishes. Hashem will therefore reveal for all, and in particular for the one concerned, the good hidden in the event, so that one can see it, with one's eyes of flesh.

Obviously, an immense effort is necessary to convince oneself. It is, however, easier to make for those who come from a chassidic family, who have married chassidim*, who lead their home in a chassidic spirit, by being permeated with the spirit of Chassidus* and its practices.

I wish that Hashem show you, as well as your husband and your son, the perfection of the good that the various events of your life secrete, even if you have not yet been conscious of it. Thus, all together, you will be happy, materially and spiritually.

With my blessing,