5868 —סידור הניירות בדרך הטבע, מנהגי תספורת השערות לנשים נשואות, ובנין הבית על יסודי התורה

B"H, 24th of Marcheshvan, 5718

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of Erev Shabbos Kodesh: in keeping with the well-known saying of our Sages, of blessed memory, that whoever is granted good, this is for length of days and good years, may it be G‑d's will that you continue to bring good tidings in general, and in this, of course, the matter of arranging the papers. Although it is also understood that one must make an effort in this by natural means, as it is written, וברכך ה' אלקיך בכל אשר תעשה "and the L‑rd your G‑d will bless you in all that you do" (Devarim 15:18); for when one acts in the way of nature, G‑d, blessed be He, bestows His blessing also above the way of nature.

As to what you write regarding married women cutting the hair in front: in general there are several ways in this, and several customs among the G‑d-fearing themselves; and as our Sages, of blessed memory, said on a matter of this kind, תרווייהו צדיקי גמורי נינהו "both of them are completely righteous" (Chagigah 9b); that is to say, I mean customs whose purpose is greater fear of Heaven. Therefore one should clarify in your case what is best, and conduct yourselves accordingly.

And may it be G‑d's will that, in keeping with the words of our Sages, זכו שכינה שרויה ביניהם "if they merit, the Divine Presence dwells between them" (cf. איש ואשה זכו שכינה ביניהן "Man and woman: if they merit, the Divine Presence is between them," Sotah 17a), their home will grow upon the foundations of the Torah and its inner dimension, which is the teaching of Chassidus and its directives. And it is obvious that every influence of each of them on their surroundings in matters of this kind adds to G‑d's blessing and success in what they need in this very matter; for the way of the Holy One, blessed be He, is מדה כנגד מדה "measure for measure" (Sanhedrin 90a), except that it is many times as much.

With blessing for good news in all that has been said.

Publisher's notes

In front (מלפנים): Whether to cut it off entirely on the side of the face.

Both of them are completely righteous (תרווייהו צדיקי גמורי נינהו): Chagigah 9b: "'Between one who serves G‑d and one who has not served Him' (Malachi 3:18): the righteous is the same as one who serves G‑d, and the wicked is the same as one who has not served Him? He said to him: 'One who served and one who did not serve' are both completely righteous; but one who reviews his chapter a hundred times is not comparable to one who reviews his chapter a hundred and one times."

Summary

This letter blesses the recipient's efforts to arrange his papers, which must be pursued by natural means so that G‑d's blessing can come above nature as well. On whether married women should cut the hair in front, it notes that the G‑d-fearing follow several customs, all for the sake of fear of Heaven, and asks the couple to clarify what is best for them; and it blesses them to build their home on Torah and Chassidus, for influencing others in these matters adds, measure for measure and many times over, to their own blessing.