Matter of Perspective
Disappointments are challenging, especially in matters of money and livelihood. How to avoid the loss of hope and the slide into despair? The Avner Institute presents two encouraging letters to individuals concerned over finding gainful employment or recouping financial setbacks, with the Rebbe’s emphasis on our ability, dating back to our Forefather Abraham, to withstand the toughest hardships, to overcome the greatest obstacles, and to calmly place trust in Divine guidance.
Dedicated in memory of loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
“Every one of us has seen G-d’s kindnesses”
By the Grace of G-d
18 Adar 2, 5725
Brooklyn, NY
Blessing and Greeting:
Your letter of February 25th reached me with some delay.
Insofar as I have heard about your husband from visitors from London, I am surprised to read your description of his present state of discouragement. Surely, he knows that it is not only a matter of world outlook for a Jew, but one of the very foundations of the Jew’s faith, that G-d’s Providence extends to everyone individually, and in every aspect of one’s individual life.
How much more so where it is not only an individual matter but is related to the parnossah [livelihood] of the whole family. At the same time, it should be remembered that G-d’s Providence is a benevolent Providence; that G-d is the Essence of Goodness and desires to do good, for, “It is in the nature of the good to do good.” Therefore, it is easy to see how right King David was in the Holy Tehillim [Psalms] when he said, “G-d is with me, I shall not fear,” “G-d is my shepherd, I shall not want,” etc. It is only necessary to reflect upon this frequently and deeply, and all anxiety and worry would be dispelled at once.
Total Trust
Needless to say, trust in G-d does not mean relying solely on miracles, for the Torah commands the Jew to do everything possible in the natural order of things to matters of parnossah, etc., except that he should at the same time remember that success and blessing comes from G-d. And so it is written in the Torah “G-d will bless you in all that you do.”
If the above is true in every case and at all times and places, it should certainly be obvious to Jews in our own time, since every one of us has seen G-d’s kindnesses, especially Jews who had a miraculous escape from the dangers of the Second World War. How can one allow himself to be so confused by the yetzer hara [evil inclination], as to be overcome by anxiety or worry?
All Temporary
Of course, there are times when things do not seem to go as expected or as desired. But the Torah has already forewarned us to regard such times as temporary trials and tests of one’s faith in G-d. As a matter of fact, the stronger remains one’s faith in G-d even under adverse circumstances, the sooner it will become clear it was all a matter of a test.
But this faith should not be merely a matter of the service but must have the full force of conviction. And this is not hard to achieve, if one reflects on what has been said above, and frequently, calmly, and objectively.
I trust that the above lines will suffice and that you, on your part, will also be a source of encouragement and confidence to your husband. May G-d grant that you should have good news to report in the spirit of Purim on which we celebrate the reversal of the Jewish position from sadness to gladness and, in the words of the Megillah, “For the Jews there was Light, Joy, Gladness and Honor.”
With blessing,
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P.S. You may, of course, show this letter to your husband, if you think it will serve a useful purpose. The important thing is that the message of the letter should be effective, and that you should soon be able to report about an improvement in your husband’s state of mind, to go about his business with confidence and joy, and this will be the first step to an improvement in parnossah.
“An answer and a definite view”
By the Grace of G-d
2 Nissan 5729
Brooklyn, NY
Mr. Nathan Vogel
110 Princes Pk. Ave.
London, N.W. 11, England
Greeting and Blessing:
Rabbi N. Sudak has informed me of the loss which has been sustained by the business enterprise, the earnings of which were earmarked for the Lubavitch House activities, and that this unfortunate occurrence has considerably upset you.
While such a reaction is quite understandable, it is necessary not to lose sight of the real Torah perspective. For, as in the case of every occurrence and every matter, the Torah contains an answer and a definite view. Indeed, it has often been emphasized that the Torah is eternal, and not only in regard to the mitzvoth, but also in regard to the various narratives in the Torah. And while the events and episodes mentioned in the Torah were connected with certain persons, and certain circumstances, in time and place, nevertheless their message is eternal and valid for all times and all places, with particular relevance also to each and every one of us individually.
Earliest Trials
I have in mind the earlier trials and tests which the first Jew, our Father Abraham, had to undergo, at a time when he was one and only in his generation, as it is written, “One was Abraham.” When G-d said to Abraham, “Lech lecha, ordering him to leave his land, his birthplace, and father’s house, it was very difficult for him to do so, even to separate himself from one of the three attachments, not to mention all three together.
Then Abraham was told to go an unknown to him land (Canaan, later to become Eretz Yisroel), where he was promised to become great, and a source of blessing for all. Yet, no sooner did he arrive there than a famine broke out in that particular land with such severity, that he had to leave at once and go to Egypt, which undoubtedly was with G-d’s approval.
Under these circumstances one might have expected that Abraham could very seriously question Divine Providence, which seemed so inconsistent and contradictory. All the more so in view of what is written in Pirkei d’Rabbi Elazar (ch. 26) that the famine affected only the land of Canaan and did not extend to any other land, which was clearly intended to test him, yet Abraham not only did not complain, but did everything with joy and gladness of heart, taking his whole family with him, etc.
Of course, it all turned out only as a test of his bitachon [trust] in G-d, for soon afterwards Abraham was richly rewarded, and returned to Canaan richly laden with cattle, silver and gold, as the Torah tells us. In reference to this experience of Abraham, the Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah) states that everything experienced by Abraham also happened to his children.
Test-Worthy
In the light of the above, you ought to consider yourself very privileged to have the zechus [merit] to be considered worthy of nisyonos [tests] similar to above, and the similarity surely requires no elaboration. I am confident that very soon you too will see that happy end of this test and be richly rewarded with “silver and gold” also in the plain sense of the world. All the more so since the profits of this business enterprise have been dedicated to a holy cause.
Inasmuch as we will soon celebrate Yom Tov Pesach, the Festival of our Liberation, may G-d grant that you should be liberated also from all distracting thoughts, and be able to continue your sacred work in matters of Torah and holiness in general, and the activities of Lubavitch and kosher chinuch [education] in particular, and do so with joy and gladness of heart.
Wishing you and yours a Kosher and Happy Pesach,
With blessing,
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