Purim-Koton, 5711

Dear Mr.

I have received your letter in which you inform me about yourself and your family and present before me your problem: You operate a hardware store, which is the source of your weekly income and as Shabbos is the busiest day in the week, you have kept your store open Shabbos, but the violation of the Shabbos bothers you very much, and you ask my advice.

I want to tell you first of all that I was very pleased to hear that the desecration of the Shabbos bothers you from the depth of your heart. It shows that your Jewish heart is alive and active, and strongly objects to your doing something wrong - wrong not only for your soul, but also for your body, for with the Jew the body and soul are closely united to form one whole, and there can be no thing which is hurtful to the soul and yet not be hurtful to the body.

Before answering your question, I want to make the following observations by way of introduction:

Jews in general, and faithful ones in particular, have no doubt that G-d created the world and guides it. Nor is there any doubt that the Ten Commandments are from G-d, and among them the fourth: Remember the Shabbos day to keep it holy... thou shalt do no work on it.¹

It is equally certain that G-d who created man, also provides him with opportunities to sustain himself, and it would be illogical to imagine that G-d would compel anyone to obtain his livelihood in an unlawful way, contrary to His will and, moreover, contrary to His expressed will: The Fourth Commandment of keeping the Shabbos day holy.

One more point I wish to underscore. The money one earns is not an end in itself; it is but a means to obtain one's needs. Obviously, rather than first earn the money and then, G-d forbid, e.g. spend it on medical care, it is better to forego both the earnings and the medical expenses and be well. The Important thing, therefore, is not the money earned, but the assurance that the money would be well spent and properly enjoyed.

After the foregoing introduction, let us consider your case.

You have the privilege of being born a Jew, which in itself clearly indicates that you have been given the possibility to go through life along the Jewish path, the path of Torah and Mitzvoth, of which Shabbos observance, Kashrus, Taharas Hamishpocho (family purity through Mikvah), etc. are fundamentals.

There can therefore be no doubt that if you resolutely choose the path of Torah and Mitzvoth, the Almighty will provide you with a kosher means of livelihood. This does not mean, of course, that the path will be easy from the start. For, reasons often beyond our comprehension, G-d may place in one’s way trials and tests, whereby an easier road may present itself, easier and better, that is, only in the mind of the one who is put to the test, but a road which involves the violation of a Mitzvah or a transgression of a prohibition (Averah). Such a test may be a severe one, for example, when it appears that so many Jews who unfortunately desecrate the Shabbos seem to be doing quite well, perhaps better than those who struggle to observe it.

It is certain, however, that it is not so; that the happiness of a Jew and Jewess can only be found along the path of the Torah and Mitzvoth. In your case it is conditional on your observing the Shabbos.

Consequently, as a friend of yours and in compliance with the Mitzvah of 'Veohavto l’reacho komoicho' (love thy fellow Jew as thyself)² which is also one of the fundamentals of the Torah,³ it is my duty and Zechus to advise you to base your life in general and means of livelihood in particular upon the commandments of our Torah. Do not be influenced in any way by the difficulties that may arise in the beginning, even loss of earnings, etc. Be absolutely firm in your faith that the Almighty will eventually provide for all your needs in a kosher way, and you and your wife and children will lead a happy Jewish life, a life of complete harmony between the physical and spiritual, between the material needs and the Divine soul. For, to quote a saying by my father-in-law of sainted memory: A Jew neither desires, nor can he be separated from G-d.⁴

I am looking forward to hearing good news from you, and conclude wishing you success in arranging your affairs materially and spiritually, in a satisfactory way.

Cordially,

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson