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

Blessing and Greeting:

I duly received your letter in which you write that you suffer from a taste of bitterness in your mouth, and would like to see me in this connection if I could help you in some way.

There is no need to come to see me on this matter, since I can convey to you in writing what I would have said to you personally. It is that, first of all, you should be meticulous in your observance of the dietary laws, to be careful to eat only kosher food, both at home and outside, for, G-d Who ordained these laws, is everywhere.

I would also like to make the following point, after a prefatory observation. Every living thing must have its proper environment, and cannot function harmoniously if it is taken out of its proper environment. An extreme example of this is found in fish, which must have its water, while land animals cannot live in water. Thus, what is a vital necessity for one living thing may be just the opposite for another.

In a similar way, a Jew can function properly only in the atmosphere which is suitable for the Jewish soul, which in plain words means living the Jewish way of life in accordance with the will of G-d, as is set forth and codified in the Shulchan Aruch. This includes also, of course, the observance of Shabbos, wherein a Jew can find harmony only through the cessation of work, even though for non-Jews this would have the opposite effect. I have cited the laws of kashrus and Shabbos observance only because of their obvious and basic importance, but the same is true of all the Divine commandments which a Jew is duty-bound to observe in his daily life, which constitute the right ecological conditions for a Jew to function properly both physically and spiritually.

After you have resolved to order your life accordingly, you ought to consult a specialist again, for then the treatment he may prescribe would also prove more effective in your case.

It is customary in such a situation to make sure that the mezuzah at the entrance to your bedroom is kosher and properly affixed, and similarly throughout the house or apartment.

Wishing you hatzlocho in all above, as well as a happy Chanukah and a growing measure of light in all your affairs.

With blessing,