By the Grace of G-d10th of Cheshvan,5734 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

In addition to the reports that I receive from time to time indirectly, I was pleased to receive just now Mrs. Stern’s letter of the 4th of Cheshvan. I was gratified to read the good news about her activities in S. Africa,¹ especially with the school children. Now it is quite evident how important and urgent has been the appeal made in the latter part of this summer,² centered on מפי עוללים ויונקים גו’ (כדי) להשבית אויב ומתנקם.³

The above, incidentally, conveys a basic lesson, which becomes more obvious by analogy from medicine, which has two general aspects: cure and prevention. The first has to do with curing the sick; the second - with preventing sickness. At first glance, the accomplishment of the physician in curing the sick seems more impressive by its dramatic results, than preventive medicine, where there could be some delusion that sickness would be somehow avoided. In truth, however, it is surely better to be certain of immunity to sickness. The latter is the way of G-d, as it is written:⁴ כל המחלה גו’ לא אשים עליך כי אני ה’ רופאיך.

In the present situation, the “enemy and avenger” has made no secret of his intentions, which emphasizes again how true is the saying of our Sages⁵ that אין בעל הנס מכיר בנסו. And while the preventive powers of Torah and Mitzvoth are also in a manner of אין בעל הנס מכיר בנסו, this is clearly the more desirable way, and may G-d grant that henceforth it will be only in this way.

In light of the above it is more urgent than ever to spread the Torah, Toras Chayim, and your contribution through the “Betrachtungen” is certainly an important part of this endeavor.

With esteem and blessing,

M. Schneerson

Encl.