Thursday, June 25, 2009

A letter from the Rebbe, in honor of Gimmel Tammuz

Kol HaKavod! Via CrownHeights.info, from Chabad.org. Read the entire letter, but... emphasis mine, but of course I would assume they mean similar things in their selection.
ב"ה
16 Iyar 5711
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

I am in receipt of your letter of May 16th. As per your request, I hasten to reply to you, although a great deal of earlier correspondence has not been acknowledged yet.

First of all, I want to correct a wrong attitude on your part as expressed in your letter, to the effect that you put your faith in me and my promise. A Jewish person should put his or her faith only in G-d, the Creator and Master of the world, who guides all its destinies, who Is the Healer of the sick and the Source of Good.

Because G-d is good, He wants everybody, and Jews especially, to be happy. It happens, however, that we, with our fleshy eyes, cannot see and understand His ways. But we must be firm in our faith that only good can come from the good G-d, and that the good will become apparent eventually.

In truth, I should have used stronger words of censure; with regard to your attitude of placing your faith completely in a human being. However, realizing the aching heart of a mother whose child is ailing, and no person can be fully responsible in distress, I wish to repeat again, what I have told your husband, […], and requested to convey to you: Be strong in your faith in G-d, who knows no obstacles or limitations, that He will surely send His help and that you will have lots of Nachos from your daughter and lead her to the Сhuрраh. בשעה טובה ומוצלחת.

As I have told your husband, such firm faith do G-d is the best means of hastening your daughter's cure. Be confident and cheerful, and help cheer others through participation in the preparations for a Chassidishe farbrengen at the proper times, and similar inspiring occasions.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson
This is indeed a proper attitude to have with regard to Judaism and one's faith in Hashem. It is easy to stumble and put our faith in humans, even in terms of faith in the power of tzaddikim. Indeed, it reminds me in some part of Yaakov's response to Rachel about children.

3 comments:

Rabbi Joshua Maroof said...

What about this letter:

http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/73253/jewish/The-Wager.htm

chenyok said...

glad it meets with your approval
eyeroll

joshwaxman said...

they don't need to meet with anyone's approval. but i believe in giving credit where credit is due, in contrast to only criticizing where there is something in need of critiquing.

this was a good message that they selected to put out at this time. and it does the Rebbe honor, IMHO.

kt,
josh

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin