By the Grace of G-d17 Shevat, 5713Brooklyn 13, N.Y.

Greeting and blessing: 

I have received your letter of January 22nd in which you briefly describe your biography, and that you at present are studying at the Manchester Yeshiva, and that you have various difficulties, such as the difficulty of concentration during study, failure to live up to a higher standard of religion, bad language, etc., etc. 

No doubt you have heard from your teachers of the Yeshiva and from older friends that although G-d created the Yetzer Hora, whose duty it is to tempt the human being in various ways, the purpose of it is only to test the human being and enable him to overcome such temptation. For this purpose the human being was given the spiritual forces of the soul which are strong enough to overcome the temptation of the Yetzer Hora. It is only necessary to make use of these forces to the fullest extent. 

However, to be able to completely overcome the Yetzer Hora, it takes time and effort, and one should not despair if one does not immediately and very easily attain victory. There may be various reasons why victory is sometimes harder to attain. But, at any rate, one should feel quite certain that eventually one will attain victory, and, of course, the sooner it is the better it is. The important thing to remember is that the feeling of despondency or discouragement is to be avoided at all costs, because such feelings are among the weapons of the Yetzer Hora, who tells the struggling person, “It is no use your making the effort, your battle is lost anyway.” 

It is impossible to enlarge on this subject in the course of a letter, and I have merely given you the core of the idea. If you want to study this question further you should ask your teachers at the Yeshiva, or your older friends there to give you additional information on this subject.

Although you do not write it in your letter, but since you are a member of the Igud,¹ you no doubt say Tillim as it is divided according to the days of the month, and other good deeds expected from members of the Igud. 

With regard to your question that you cannot concentrate on the Shema before going to bed, one of remedies to help concentrate is to recite it from the Sidur and not by heart. 

You also ask how you should fill in the free time that you have. I would suggest that during this time, you revise those Shiurim in which you are not sufficiently proficient. 

May G-d bless you to make good progress in your learning with Yiras Shomayim, so that all who are dear to you should have Yiddish Nochas, Chassidishe Nochas, from you. 

By Nissan Mindel

Sec'y