6578 —הימנעות מוויכוחים ובטחון בהשגחה אלוקית לפרנסה

B"H, 2nd of Kislev, 5719
Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter — the reply was delayed because of the month of Tishrei and its affairs, when the time does not allow for it^[1].

I strongly hope that you are continuing in the study of the revealed Torah and the teachings of Chassidus, and are becoming more accustomed, from time to time, to your friends and to the order of the yeshivah in general.

Returned herewith is the letter you sent me. It is understood that it is most proper not to enter into arguments, for what use are claims and counterclaims? A person's task is "to learn, to observe, to do and to fulfill"^[2], as we are commanded in the Torah of the living G‑d. It is likewise understood that there is no need, G‑d forbid, to be in a quarrel with anyone; only to explain that you want to go in the way of Torah and mitzvah. Like the thousands studying in the Lubavitch yeshivos and in other yeshivos, both in the Holy Land, may it be built and established^[3], and outside the Land, who study sacred subjects the whole day long — and so they did in the period before this, and in the generation before that period — and when the time and season comes, the matter of livelihood is also arranged. And one may be sure that the Giver of the Torah and the mitzvah, Who "feeds and sustains the whole world in His goodness, with grace, with kindness and with mercy"^[4], will fulfill His promise: "If you will walk in My statutes" (and our Sages explained: that you toil in Torah)^[5] "and keep My commandments, etc., then I will give, etc." — all the blessings enumerated in the parshah^[6] — and success in everything a person needs.

May it be G‑d's will that you succeed in your study, the study of Torah and the fulfillment of the mitzvos, and "go from strength to strength"^[7]. I strongly hope, too, that in the end your parents will also have abundant nachas from your conduct, and may it be G‑d's will that this come soon.

With blessing for good tidings^[8] in all the above,

In the name of the Rebbe^[9] shlita,

Secretary

Notes

1. When the time does not allow for it (שאין הזמן גרמא לזה): The month of Tishrei, with its holy days and many affairs, left no time to answer letters promptly.

2. "To learn, to observe, to do and to fulfill" (ללמוד לשמור לעשות ולקיים): After the wording of the blessing "Ahavah Rabbah" in the morning prayer: "to learn and to teach, to observe, to do and to fulfill all the words of the study of Your Torah with love."

3. In the Holy Land, may it be built and established (באה"ק ת"ו): בארץ הקודש תבנה ותכונן; בחו"ל = בחוץ לארץ, outside the Land.

4. "Who feeds the whole world in His goodness" (הזן ומפרנס את העולם כולו בטובו): After the wording of the first blessing of Grace after Meals: "Who feeds the whole world in His goodness, with grace, with kindness and with mercy."

5. "If you will walk in My statutes" (אם בחקתי תלכו): Vayikra 26:3, and Rashi there (from Toras Kohanim): "'If you will walk in My statutes' — could this mean the fulfillment of the mitzvos? When it says 'and keep My commandments', the fulfillment of the mitzvos is already stated. How then do I explain 'If you will walk in My statutes'? That you should toil in Torah."

6. All the blessings enumerated in the parshah (ככל הברכות המנויות בפרשה): Vayikra 26:4–13: "I will give your rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce," etc. That is: the promise of livelihood and every good depends on toil in Torah, so there is no need to fear that studying in yeshivah will harm his livelihood in the future.

7. "Go from strength to strength" (ילך מחיל אל חיל): The words of the pasuk, Tehillim 84:8: "They go from strength to strength."

8. Good tidings (לבשו"ט): לבשורות טובות.

9. The Rebbe (כ"ק אדמו"ר): כבוד קדושת אדוננו מורנו ורבנו. The letter was written by the secretary in the Rebbe's name.

Summary

To a yeshivah student whose decision to study full-time has met opposition, the Rebbe's secretary advises him not to enter into arguments or quarrels, only to explain that he wants to follow the way of Torah, as thousands study in yeshivos all day and their livelihood is arranged in its time. G‑d, Who sustains the whole world, promised that toil in Torah brings every blessing. May he succeed and go from strength to strength, and may his parents soon have nachas from him.