By the Grace of G-d 5th of Kislev, 5725 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

Your letter of October 25th reached me with some delay. May G-d grant that the matters about which you write should be resolved in a satisfactory way.

Needless to say, I cannot agree with your attitude and state of mind, if my impressions of your letter are correct, that is to say, an attitude of discouragement, and even profound discouragement, etc. For, one of the most basic tenets of our religion and way of life, is our trust in G-d, whose benevolent Providence extends to everyone individually. And precisely when things seem to be discouraging, it is the time to strengthen one's faith in G-d, for this in itself is a channel to receive G-d's blessing.

It is not unusual that something happens in the daily life which makes it difficult to reconcile with one’s trust in G-d. However in most cases it is a matter of a test of the very trust in G-d which one professes. Indeed, the Torah states explicitly that G-d may test our love for him under trying circumstances.¹ Therefore when we show that we understand the significance of the trial, and our trust in G-d, far from weakening, becomes even stronger, this will hasten the end of the trial period.

Needless to say, the trust in G-d has to come within the framework of a full life in accordance with the Torah and Mitzvoth. And however satisfactory this may seem at any time, there is always room for improvement in all matters of goodness and holiness. Every such additional improvement will, as already mentioned, bring about additional Divine blessings.

With reference to the person of whom you write that he has undergone a change, experience has shown that very often it is easier to attain the desired results if the intervention comes through the agency of friends, who could speak to that person with words coming from the heart which penetrate the heart, and speak again and again if necessary. Needless to say that the effectiveness would be conditioned upon the fact that the person should not know that the friends have been requested to talk to him and influence him.

I trust that you know of, and observe, the good custom of putting aside a small coin for Tzedoko before lighting the candles on the eve of Shabbos and Yom Tov. I also suggest that the Mezuzoth of your home should be checked to make sure they are Kosher.

With blessing

By (secretary)