6780 —הסיוע לעולי רומניה: ענין משמח ולא מעמסה, כפי היכולת ומדרגא לדרגא

B"H, 20 Adar II^[1], 5719
Brooklyn.

The Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs^[2],
Reb Yechiel Michel, may he live long^[3]

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter of 16 Adar II, in which you write about your state of mind, etc., and that therefore you are unable to do anything regarding the immigrants from Romania^[4].

Now, this applies only^[5] if you look upon the above as a burden and hard work. But when you see the matter as it truly is – that it is a joyful thing, that you can act for the good of a great many Jews^[6], and that here too it is said, "It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work"^[7] – then you can easily do in this as much as you are able, in a manner of slowly, slowly, going step by step, from the easy to the less easy, and in a way that you do not tire yourself too much. And certainly the doctor who is treating you will not only agree to this but will also encourage and strengthen you; and the work mentioned also brings a strengthening of the health of the body, in the plain sense, in addition to the doctor's other instructions.

And since we are in the month of Adar, in which "we increase in joy"^[8], and "joining redemption to redemption"^[9], from the month of Adar to Nissan – redemption from all things that hinder the service of G‑d "with joy and with gladness of heart"^[10] – may you have good news to report^[11] in all matters.

With blessing for good news in all the above.

Publisher's notes

Reb Yechiel Michel (מו"ה יחיאל מיכל): Dabruskin, Haifa. Further letters to him: above, vol. 11, letter 3786, and the references in the notes there.

Notes

1. 20 Adar II (כ' אד"ש): אד"ש = אדר שני, Adar II. 20 Adar II 5719 was Monday, 30 March 1959; the recipient's letter of 16 Adar II was Thursday, 26 March.

2. The Chassid, a G‑d-fearing man, distinguished and honored, engaged in communal needs (הרה"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ): הרה"ח = הרב החסיד, "the Chassid"; אי"א = איש ירא אלקים, "a G‑d-fearing man"; נו"נ = נעלה ונכבד, "distinguished and honored"; עוסק בצ"צ = עוסק בצרכי ציבור, "engaged in communal needs".

3. Reb Yechiel Michel (מו"ה יחיאל מיכל שי'): Dabruskin, Haifa (see the publisher's note). R. Yechiel Michel Dabruskin, one of the Chassidim in Haifa, who gave public shiurim there and worked on building a mikveh according to the instructions of the Rebbe Rashab, and who asked the Rebbe questions of halachah and custom (letters: vol. 6, 1643; vol. 7, 2029, 2089, 2135; vol. 10, 3106; vol. 11, 3786). Already in Sivan 5712 the Rebbe wondered why his name did not appear among those active in the work of Agudas Chabad, "especially since he is in Haifa, a place where Agudas Chabad is not noticeable", and wrote: "a pity on every day that passes" (vol. 6, letter 1643).

4. The immigrants from Romania (עולי רומיניא): Those who came to the Land of Israel from Romania. On the immigrants from Romania in this period, see also letters 6696 and 6773 above, on the yeshivah established by immigrants from Romania and Bessarabia in Kiryat Gat.

5. This applies only (בד"א): בד"א = במה דברים אמורים. What he writes, that he is unable to do anything, is true only if he looks upon the matter as a burden.

6. A great many Jews (כו"כ מבנ"י): כו"כ = כמה וכמה, "a great many"; בנ"י = בני ישראל, "Jews".

7. "It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work" (לא עליך המלאכה לגמור): Avos 2:16: הוא היה אומר, לא עליך המלאכה לגמור, ולא אתה בן חורין ליבטל ממנה, "He used to say: It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, yet you are not free to desist from it"; and Bartenura: "the Holy One, blessed be He, did not hire you to complete all of it". He need not finish the whole task, only do what he can.

8. "We increase in joy" (מרבין בשמחה): Taanis 29a: כשם שמשנכנס אב ממעטין בשמחה, כך משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה, "Just as when Av begins we reduce joy, so when Adar begins we increase in joy."

9. "Joining redemption to redemption" (ומסמך גאולה לגאולה): After Megillah 6b: in a leap year Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel holds that the Megillah is read in "the Adar next to Nissan"; "the reason of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel: joining redemption to redemption is preferable", and Rashi: "Purim to Pesach". The redemption of Purim in Adar II is joined to the redemption of Pesach in Nissan.

10. "With joy and with gladness of heart" (בשמחה ובטוב לבב): From the verse Devarim 28:47: תחת אשר לא עבדת את ה' אלקיך בשמחה ובטוב לבב, "because you did not serve G‑d your L‑rd with joy and with gladness of heart".

11. May you have good news to report (יבש"ט): יבש"ט = יבשר טוב; בשו"ט = בשורות טובות, "good news".

Summary

The recipient wrote that his state of mind left him unable to do anything for the immigrants from Romania. The Rebbe answers that this is so only if he sees the work as a burden; seen as it truly is, a joy of helping many Jews in which "it is not incumbent upon you to complete the work", he can do what he can, step by step and without overtiring himself, and it will strengthen his health. In Adar, joined to the redemption of Nissan, may he be freed from all that hinders serving G‑d with joy.