By the Grace of G-d27th of Sivan, 5739Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 8th, in which you mention that you have written to me once. I believe that I replied to you at some length (in April, 1979) though I have not had an acknowledgement of it.

Needless to say, you are right that one must do all one can, and as it is written, "And G-d will bless you in all that you do." Having done all one could, one must leave it up to G-d's blessing to be Matzliach, whether by way of a miracle, or (by way of a hidden miracle) in a natural disguise.

It is also clear, as amply explained in the Torah, that a Jew must always keep the channels open to receive G-d's blessings. G-d is always ready and willing to bestow His blessings, but it is necessary to have "channels and vessels," to receive them, and these are through the everyday life and conduct in accordance with His Will, namely, in accordance with the Torah and Mitzvoth, as clearly stated in the Torah, "If you will walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments and do them..." then follow all the blessings enumerated there (Par. Bechukosai).

Needless to say, every Jew has been given the necessary capacities to carry out G-d's Will, since G-d does not require anything beyond human capacity, so that in the final analysis, it is up to one's own will and determination.

If you will follow the above, you will save yourself a lot of trouble in searching for answers to various questions which you mention in your letter, for you will have the frame of mind and insights to solve your problems, either by yourself, or with the help of a Rov, or in our sacred Sources where such matters are discussed.

Since you have already written to me, I will address myself to your first question, namely, "What is self sacrifice?"

The answer is: Judging by the continuation of your letter, it seems that you are referring to yourself, but on the basis of your description of your situation, it appears that no real self sacrifice is required of you. What is expected of you is the same as of every Jew, namely, the everyday life and conduct in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch in every respect, and this is the essential thing.

There is surely no need to explain to any right-thinking person that seeing someone whose conduct is not entirely in keeping with the Torah and Mitzvoth is no reason to be displeased with G-d, or reject His Mitzvoth ח"ו. For a Jew must live up to the Torah and Mitzvoth regardless of whether someone else does or does not do so, but because this is G-d’s Will.

May G-d grant that your everyday life and conduct will be in keeping with the above, including complete Bitochon in G-d, and may you have good news to report.

With blessing

M. Schneerson