By the Grace of G-d 3rd Elul, 5715Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I received your letter of August 2 and enclosure, for which receipt is enclosed from our Bikkur Cholim, and may the merit of it stand you in good stead for the improvements in your health. As requested, I will remember you in prayer when visiting the Holy resting place of my Father-in-law, of saintly memory.

Needless to say, you need not apologise for the amount of the donation, for in this case it is not the amount itself that is essential, but the sentiment and strong faith in G-d and in His commandments that a Mitzvah in general and Tzdokah in particular has a good influence also on the material aspects of life, and the stronger the faith, the sooner one sees that it is justified.

In this connection, I consider it my duty to refer to another part of your letter which seems to be highly inconsistent. If you consider the Almighty to be the Master of the World with regard to life and other material aspects, and since you know what is written in the Bible with regard to Sabbath observance, it is surely inconsistent on your part to think that G-d can give Parnosso only in such a way, which is contradictory to G-d’s commandments of Sabbath observance. I am all the more surprised, since you attend college, which indicates that you wish to lead an intellectual and logical life, yet your action is quite the opposite to logic and even commonsense.

I know that questions are raised in this connection as to the fact that other people, who do not observe the Sabbath, still seem to earn more money. But the answer is also clear: first, it is possible that if that person were observing the Sabbath, he might do much better; second, and this is the important thing, money is not an end in itself, but a means, and the important thing is that it be spent on good and healthy things.

It is understandable that in order that the Jew may observe the Divine Commandments out of love for G-d, not out of selfish reasons, the world has been so arranged that punishment for transgression should not be swift in coming, otherwise there would be no room for freedom of choice. Therefore, G-d Who is very patient, wants the person to recognise the truth through conviction and freedom of choice, rather than by the crack of the whip. As a result many years might pass, sometimes, even generations, until retribution catches up with the offender or his offspring, since children are a continuation of the parents.

I do not want to enlarge further on this question, especially as you are already in a somewhat depressed state of mind. But I hope that the above few lines will suffice to make you reflect and consider the above and draw the right conclusions, namely, that the happiness of the Jew and the members of his family, and the happiness of any creature, lies in following the Way set down by the Creator, since He alone knows the complete account of everything that is involved, and therefore the Way of Life He sets before us is the true and happy one in the fullest sense.

With prayerful wishes that you may have good news to report.

With Blessing, לכוח”ט