By the Grace of G‑d 7th of Adar II, 5717 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your letter of the 5th of Adar I.

With regard to the inclination toward a feeling of sadness, a good remedy for it is to have it firmly engraved on your mind that G‑d, the Creator of the world, watches over everyone individually, and being the Essence of goodness, there is therefore, no room for sadness or worry, and has been explained at length in various parts of the Tanya (see Index). It would especially be good for you to learn by heart from the beginning of Chapter 41 to page 56, second line,¹ whenever you feel sad or depressed you should review that section in your mind or recite it orally to dispel the unwelcome feeling.

With regard to the question of a beard, since, as you write, you spend most of the day in the yeshivah, it would be the right thing that you should let it grow. In addition to all the reasons you mention in your letter, there is one fundamental reason in accordance with the Tzemach Tzedek, Yoreh Deah, par. 93. It should also be added that when a Jew does something beyond the call of duty and Din, G‑d sends extra special blessings, as is explained in the Zohar and also in the commentary of the Tzemach Tzedek on Tillim, on the verse “V'hu Rachum” (see "Tillim Ohel Yosef Yitzchok haShalem," in the supplement, at the end).² May G‑d grant that your example will be emulated by your friends at the yeshivah, and thus you will have the additional satisfaction of having been a pioneer for a good cause.

As requested, I will remember you and all those mentioned in your letter when visiting the holy resting place of my father-in-law, of saintly memory, and may G‑d grant that you will have good news to report in all of the above and will be successful in your studies and in your conduct, both of which are based on “serve G‑d with joy.”³

With blessing,