By the Grace of G-d22nd of Iyar, 5724Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

After not having heard from you for a considerable time, I received your letter of Lag B'Omer.

In it you write chapter headings about your life since your previous letter, and also about your status in matters of Torah and Mitzvoth.

Generally speaking, the problems about which you write in connection with the above are of a nature which makes it difficult to discuss in a letter. However this is not necessary, inasmuch as there are many persons in London among Anash who could clear up the questions which you raise in your letter.

I would like to make some general observations here:

a) The study of the Torah and the fulfillment of the Mitzvoth must be in a spirit of Naaseh before v'Nishmah, as the Torah teaches us in connection with Mattan Torah, which we will soon celebrate. In other words there must be unconditional obedience to G-d in the fulfillment of His commandments. As a matter of fact the actual performance of the commandments with such obedience gives new insight into the commandments and makes it possible to understand and grasp some of their deeper meaning and significance.

b) There must be a constant effort to advance in the learning of the Torah and the fulfillment of the Mitzvoth, with a spirit of Yiras Shomayim, and the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth will steadily displace the darkness of the Yetzer.

c) The right place for the study of the Torah is the Yeshiva and environment which have a maximum measure of Yiras Shomayim.¹

d) Whatever difficulties there may be, real or imaginary, one should remember the Divine assurance that "He who is determined to purify himself, receives help from On High."² Where there is a real determination to go ahead, it will soon become clear that the obstacles which loomed so great in the past, are actually not so great after all, or even non-existent.

e) With regard to the particular temptation which you mention, the way to overcome it is not through wrestling with it or engaging in mental argumentation etc., but rather through "Hessach Hadaas," namely, whenever the thought or temptation occurs, to dismiss it from your mind at once, by engaging your mind in something else which is completely unrelated to it, preferably engaging the mind in a matter of Torah and Mitzvoth, for even "A little light dispels a lot of darkness."³

As we are now in the midst of the days of Sfira, you surely know that the inner aspect of counting the days of the Omer is to express our longing and desire for Mattan Torah, which comes immediately at the end of Sfira. It is necessary that this feeling should not remain confined to the heart, but should be expressed in the daily life in a growing devotion and diligence in the study of the Torah and the fulfillment of the Mitzvoth. I hope this will be your daily experience, and that you will also use your good influence on your friends in this direction, in fulfillment of the teaching of our Sages that Ahavas Yisroel is the great principle of the Torah.⁴

Hoping to hear good news from you

With blessing

By Nissan Mindel