By the Grace of G‑d 7th of Marcheshvan, 5719 Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. Zalmon Jaffe
105, Cavendish Rd.
Salford 8, Lancaster
England
Greeting and Blessing:
I duly received your cable and letter of October 12th. Needless to say, I was very happy to receive the good news of your being completely exonerated at the trial,1 and of your brother Joe’s forthcoming marriage.
It has been often stressed that when a person takes the trouble to keep his eyes and mind open, he can see G‑d’s individual Divine Providence at every step, and often with unusual emphasis, and as you have yourself noticed in your case in the matter of the trial, as you write in your letter.
May G‑d grant that you will continue to see G‑d’s Divine Providence, but in a benevolent way only, in obvious and tangible good, without anxiety or worry, and that the good always turn to better.
Inasmuch as you have begun the New Year with happy tidings, may G‑d grant that you will continue to have good things to report throughout the year in every way, both in your private, as well as in your public affairs.
With prayerful wishes, and
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
Notes and sources
Mr. Shneur Zalmon Jaffe (5673–5760 / 1913–2000), was a Lubavitch businessman in Manchester, England, who merited a very close and unique personal relationship with the Rebbe. For further biographical information, and over 200 letters he received from the Rebbe, see 20 Iyar, 5713.
1) The previous year, Mr. Jaffe had been involved in a tragic car accident in which three people lost their lives, and he was subsequently charged with reckless driving. At the court case, after the prosecution presented its case, the defense moved to have the charges dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Before ruling, the judge asked the jury if they had reached a verdict. The jury responded that they still wished to hear the defense. The judge sharply rebuked them, saying, “Can you not see that Mr. Jaffe is 100% not to blame?!” The jury immediately returned a verdict of not guilty. This emphatic declaration—“100% not to blame”—was highly unusual and proved deeply meaningful to Mr. Jaffe. It enabled him to find emotional closure and release lingering feelings of personal responsibility. He regarded this outcome as a true brocha (blessing) from the Rebbe.
Source: Photocopy of original.
Published: Mr. Manchester, (England, 2003), p. 28.
Keep Your Eyes Open!
Source & Link: Mr. Manchester, pg. 28: Alternative Source: https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/letters/default_cdo/aid/1888938/jewish/Exoneration-from-Trial-Blessing.htm