By the Grace of G-d5th of Tishrei, 5720 Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letters.

With regard to the question whether you should press your brother for a definite answer as to his plans in regard to his staying in the business, I note that you write in your letter that you are satisfied with the status quo, and presumably so is your brother. Therefore, there seems to be no reason to press him for any definite decision at this time. There is an added consideration in the fact that your brother put a higher price on his share than was offered by another party to take it over. Therefore, if you should press your brother for a definite decision at this time, it would imply that you are very interested in buying him out, and this would not put you in a good bargaining position as to the price of his share.

On the other hand, if the situation should take a turn where it would be necessary to know your brother’s position with regard to long term commitments, as in the case where your brother’s signature would be necessary on such commitments, etc., that would provide the opportunity to find out your brother’s position. For your brother would then have to make up his mind whether he is staying in the business and willing to be a partner to such commitments, or not. This would not jeopardize your bargaining position, as it would not imply any eagerness on your part to buy him out, and if he should decide to sell his share to you, it would probably be at a more moderate price than he would expect to receive if you appeared very anxious to take over his share.

I am pleased to note in your letter that you have resolved to maintain the business, as I had suggested.¹ I trust that you have already had occasion to convince yourself that this was a good decision.

With regard to what you write about your frustration, due to the fact that you expect much more of yourself than you are in a position to accomplish at this time, let me say this: Although a Jew should indeed make steady progress and expect more of himself today than yesterday when he was not on the same level, nevertheless the important thing is that such calculations should bring an additional measure of energy and activity. But it should be remembered that energy and activity can come only from a state of vitality, which is the opposite of frustration. Therefore, if one’s reflections have the result of bringing only frustration, then the thing to do is to dismiss such reflections from the mind in order to be able to carry on one’s daily activities with joy and confidence in all matters of Torah and Mitzvoth, and leave such reflections and calculations for other times when they will not bring about frustration and discouragement...²