By the Grace of G-dBrooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter, in which you ask various questions concerning avodat Hashem.

Needless to say, a letter is not the proper medium to discuss such questions adequately. Indeed, it is not even necessary, since you can surely discuss them with your Roshei Yeshiva.

However, inasmuch as you did write to me, I will answer at least one question, because it is of particular concern to each and every Jew. It is the question of how to attain joy and inspiration in avodat Hashem, while being aware of the necessity to have fear of G-d at the same time. In other words, the question is really how to combine the love of G-d and the fear of G-d.

Actually, it is stated explicitly by our Sages that this is possible in relation to G-d.¹ This, too, requires elaboration, but cannot be entered into here.

There are various ways to attain the love of G-d and the fear of G-d, beginning with the teachings in the Rambam² and in Chabad Chassidut, as explained at length in the Tanya.³

I trust that you realize that your most important task at this time is to study Torah with devotion and diligence and to the utmost of your ability, the kind of study that corresponds to the instruction of our Sages, of blessed memory, namely, study that leads to practice—the fulfillment of the mitzvot with hiddur. This is the most opportune time for you to make the greatest progress in this direction, and it is really only a matter of will and determination.

Inasmuch as everything is by hashgacha pratit, I take advantage of this opportunity to suggest to you to have your tefillin checked to make sure they are kosher, if this has not been done within the past twelve months.

With blessing,