By the Grace of G-d 9th of Adar II, 5719 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your letter of March 8th, in which you write about the highlights of your life, and about your family status and material circumstances.

You write that you have read and learned that a man has to seek G-d, and you ask if it is not the case also that G-d should seek man.

You are quite right, and indeed G-d seeks out not only certain individuals but calls unto everyone through the agency of the Divine soul which animates every Jew. But, inasmuch as the soul is encased in a physical body, it sometimes happens that the Divine signals which are sent to the Divine soul are either not received at all or are received in distortion by the physical "static." Nevertheless, the signals are there, but often remain buried in the subconscious, and from there, impulses, thoughts and stimuli beg to be admitted into the conscious state. Modern science is increasingly recognizing the importance of the subconscious state of mind. Yet, this has been recognized in our Torah and its commentaries for thousands of years. And, as in the case of a receiver which can receive radio signals only if it is in good order and properly attuned, and will not receive anything at all if the switch is off, so in the case of the body. However, as far as the soul is concerned, which is a part of G-d above, and always remains loyal to her Heavenly Father, it is always receptive, to the subconscious. That is why, under certain propitious circumstances, the body and soul may suddenly become illuminated with the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth. That is why, also, an individual may suddenly experience an inner desire to return to G-d, and so on. All this is discussed at great length in the teachings of Chassidus,¹ which explains in this way the statement of our Sages² that "Every Day a Heavenly Voice comes forth calling: 'Return to Me, My errant children.'"³

Needless to say, although G-d constantly seeks man and calls to him, this does not minimize the necessity of man seeking G-d, as it is written "And you shall seek G-d"⁴ for unless man reciprocates and makes an effort on his part, the signals are likely to remain ineffective. And the way man can apprehend and respond to the Divine signals is by observing the Torah and Mitzvoth in everyday life.

As requested, I will remember you and your wife in prayer, at a propitious time, and may G-d grant that your wife should have a normal pregnancy and delivery;

Hoping to hear good news from you, and wishing you a happy and inspiring Purim,

With blessing,