5834 —כח מלא לנצח במלחמת היצר, וטובה פעולה אחת מאלף אנחות

B"H, 9 Marcheshvan, 5718

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of Motzaei Shabbos Kodesh.

At an auspicious time your wife, may she live, will be mentioned at the holy resting place of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, of saintly memory, may his merit protect us, from whose mouth, according to what you write, you merited to hear the well-known maamar על כן יאמרו המושלים בואו חשבון "Therefore the rulers say: Come to Cheshbon" (Bamidbar 21:27). And it is understood that the more you add in Torah and its mitzvos, in keeping with what is explained in the saying of our Sages, of blessed memory, on this verse, בואו ונחשוב חשבונו של עולם "come, let us calculate the account of the world" (Bava Basra 78b: "the rulers" are those who rule over their inclination, who weigh the loss incurred by a mitzvah against its reward, and the gain of a sin against its loss), the more the blessings of G‑d, blessed be He, will increase in whatever is needed, materially and spiritually.

And it is obvious that, as to what you write in your letter, that you are not worthy to write since you have no strength to withstand the battle with the yetzer, etc., etc., you surely remember, or at least you should now study in the holy Tanya, how even those for whom the battle with the yetzer is hard within their own four cubits have been given full ability not only to stand firm in the battle but also to win it (see there in the places noted in the subject index printed as an addition to the Tanya). This is especially so for those who merited to see the face of a tzaddik and hear his words, for the words of tzaddikim are "living and enduring" (in the phrase of the Emes VeYatziv blessing, ודבריו חיים וקיימים "and His words are living and enduring") and have their effect, and all the more so, by a kal vachomer, in spiritual matters. Indeed, all agree, even non-Jews, that it is impossible to make something into nothing (only to change its form), how much more so in spiritual matters, and all the more so, by a kal vachomer, in matters of Torah and its mitzvos.

And according to the saying of our Rebbeim, our holy leaders, "One deed is better than a thousand sighs," instead of sighing over yourself, etc., although at times that too is necessary, it is surely better to begin acting to add in Torah and its mitzvos beyond what you have done until now; and those who occupy themselves with this are assured of increase in the blessings of G‑d, blessed be He, in whatever is needed.

And may it be His will that G‑d, blessed be He, in His abundant mercy, extend added blessing and success on the account of the future as well, and may you have good news to report in all of the above.

With blessing,

In the name of the Rebbe shlita,

Secretary

See also: Igros Kodesh vol. 18, letter 6552

Publisher's notes

The account of the world (חשבונו של עולם): Bava Basra 78b.

Summary

This letter encourages a man who felt unworthy because of his struggle with the yetzer: Tanya teaches that even one whose battle is hard has full ability to win, and the words of a tzaddik he heard remain alive and effective. Instead of sighing, he should act, adding in Torah and mitzvos, and blessing will follow.