By the Grace of G-d Motzoei Shabbos Kodesh P. Vayetzei Yaakov, 5743 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing: 

It came to my attention that you are about to retire and I take the liberty, on the basis of our association in the past, to share with you some thoughts on the subject. 

There is surely no need to emphasize to you at length that retiring - withdrawing oneself from active service - can only apply in such matters as business, employment, and the like. It cannot apply, of course, to a lifetime service which is related to Hashem. This shelichus is, in the words of our Sages "I was created to serve my Creator."¹ Of course, the extent and form of the actual performance of this shelichus varies in the course of a lifetime, as, for example, it is not the same before Bar Mitzvah as after Bar Mitzvah, and thereafter much depends on the capacities and opportunities which Divine Providence bestows upon each individual. 

One of the Jewish characteristics is the sense of innovation and especially, being "different." If ordinary retirement actually involves complete or partial withdrawal, and a slowdown of physical and mental activity (though in my opinion this is a wrong and regrettable attitude even from the viewpoint of physical health²) - it has this redeeming feature for a Jew, that it provides an opportunity to redouble his efforts in serving his Creator, now that he can divert much of his energy and attention to this most gratifying outlet. For now he has more time for Torah study, for daily prayer with kavanah, and for all other daily mitzvot and acts of gemilus chasodim - in other words, the three pillars on which the world rests, both the big world and the "small world" which is the human individual. These are the things which every Jew, deep in his heart, always desires but for too many distractions of the everyday life and environment which make it difficult to put it in actual practice. But with retirement from his job or business, he can "give his strength to Torah," and make up, to some extent, what he missed in the past. 

At the same time, devoting oneself more fully to "serving my Creator" widens the channels for an increased flow of Divine blessings also in all personal needs, inasmuch as the Torah and mitzvot are the "channels and vessels" for bringing down upon oneself, and all around, G-d's blessings in concrete form, in all needs, including, above all, good health physically and spiritually and Torah nachas from children and grandchildren, and not least, from one's own self. 

With prayerful wishes for hatzlocho in all above, and wishing you and yours a bright and inspiring Chanukah, 

With blessing, 

P.S. I wonder if you have published any writings since publishing your "Nine and a Half Mystics" some years ago.

I trust you will not wonder how the contents of my letter can be reconciled with your official position which understandably, I do not wish to dwell on here. I only wish to emphasize that however it was in the past, now that you are retiring from that official position you will be more free and more capable to dedicate yourself to the new opportunities and challenges, as mentioned above, and may G-d grant you to do it in vigorous health and with joy and gladness of heart.