By the Grace of G-d 15th of Menachem Av, 5731 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter in which you write about a certain patient, a member of your community.

There is a well known opinion of several Gedolei Yisroel to the effect that a doctor who declares that he cannot do anything for a patient, thereby loses his competence granted to him by the Torah, as it is written ורפא ירפא¹ on the basis of which our Sages ruled that this gives a physician the authority and competence to heal but only to heal.²

In the light of the above, needless to say, one must never lose trust in G-d, but must find a doctor who is willing to try and treat the patient.

As for those you mention in your letter, who offer certain methods of treatment, it would be well to discuss this with the family doctor of the patient, as to which of the methods to try.

I trust you will be able to impress upon the patient and his family that the daily conduct of the Jew in adherence to the Will of G-d, "The Healer of all flesh Who works wondrously" Who heals through His agents, the human physicians, is the way to receive G-d's blessings. Every additional effort in this direction will, therefore, bring additional Divine Blessings to make the treatment successful. Of course, in matters of goodness and holiness, there is always room for improvement, since they are infinite, being derived from the Infinite.

I would also like to suggest that the tefillin and mezuzot in the family should be checked to make sure they are kosher, and that special care should be taken by the males to put the tefillin on every weekday morning.

In compliance with your request, this letter is sent to you ahead of return.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson