By the Grace of G-dElul 25, 5737 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your letter in which you write about the problem of parnassa.

In view of your background and commitment to Yiddishkeit, as you mention in your letter, it is surely unnecessary to point out to you that the important thing about parnassa is not to earn money, but that the money should go for good, healthy and happy things and not, G-d forbid, the other way. It is amply explained in our sacred sources that money earned not in accordance with the Torah (such as involving desecration of Shabbos, or hasagat g’vul- encroaching on the rights of others, etc.) brings no good, and worse, G-d forbid. And, by way of illustration, if a person is asked whether he would prefer to earn for bare necessities and be well, or earn $100 more and have to pay $110 in doctor’s bills, the choice would be obvious.

To be sure, in some instances it may appear that people earning money not in accordance with the Torah seem to escape the above rule. But this is only because G-d is patient and gives the sinner a chance to repent, but the Divine account is bound to be straightened out, sooner or later.

There can be no doubt that the difficulties a Jew experiences in keeping up with the Torah and mitzvos are a test of his faith in G-d. But there can also be no doubt that G-d provides the strength to endure and overcome the test, and where the difficulties are greater, it only means that the person has been given greater capacities to overcome them. The whole history of our people, spanning some 3500 years, is a long chain of trials and tribulations, testing and strengthening the Jew’s loyalty to G-d and His Torah and mitzvos, and precisely through mesiras nefesh our people have been able to survive. But every test has its duration and where there is a determination to hold steadfast, it comes to an end and is richly rewarded.

On the basis of your writing, there is no need to emphasize to you at length that while all mitzvos have to be observed for their own sake, each mitzvah has its own segula, and in the matter of parnassa the mitzvah of tzedakah is particularly important. I suggest, therefore, that you should put aside for tzedakah a cent or two each weekday morning, and also before Mincha and, like all good things, should be undertaken b’li neder in case it is sometimes inadvertently overlooked.

At this time before Rosh Hashanah I send you and all yours prayerful wishes for a Kesivo vaChasimo Tovo for a truly good and sweet year, materially and spiritually.

With blessing,

P.S. If you will let me know your full Hebrew name, as well as of all the members of your family, together with the mother’s Hebrew name, as is customary, I will remember you all in prayer individually and together, as requested.