Concern for R' Yisrael Dov's Illness — Money Sent; Rabbainu's Teaching on Illness

After warmly inquiring of your good welfare with great love — I hereby inform you of our welfare, thanks to G‑d, blessed be He. Presumably, my dear brother, you have received our previous long letter before Rosh Hashana — and it is a great wonder to us that we have still received no word of your welfare, whether you have improved — and also a receipt for the aforementioned letter we sent to you at the address of R' Noton Chanhas, may he live. And we have much sorrow that we do not know of your welfare. And we yearn greatly, greatly, to hear from you that you already have complete healing. Amen. My dear brother — I hereby enclose a bank check for the sum of 13 shillings — which is 65 gram [a small currency denomination] — that we collected from the fellowship for you, so that you may revive your soul with milk and eggs and whatever is needed. And take the money only for this — to restore your health — so that you can serve Hashem. And as Rabbainu, of blessed memory, wrote in the Sefer HaMiddos [ספר המדות — Rabbainu's book of character traits and aphorisms, also called the Aleph-Beis book]: repair of the body takes precedence over repair of the soul. And further — Rabbainu, of blessed memory, said: [Yiddish:] "When the baal davar can no longer find any counsel against an upright person — he makes him ill. And then the person can do nothing at all automatically." [Hebrew:] (When the baal davar can no longer find any counsel against an upright person — he makes him ill, and then he can do nothing anymore.) Therefore you must see to it — not to abandon yourself — and to become well.

[Yiddish:] "My dear, righteous, faithful brother — I ask you very, very greatly: please write to me immediately about yourself — write out everything at length and in detail. And we pray for you always. And all the fellowship prays for you. And they perform the mi sheberach [מי שבירך — a public blessing recited at the Torah scroll on behalf of someone who is ill] at the Torah scroll. And may G‑d help that we be redeemed in general and in particular — in spiritual and in material matters. Amen. My dear, righteous, faithful brother — be joyful and hope in G‑d. A new year is arriving — and G‑d, blessed be He, will certainly help. Lo shavak velo lishbak [Aramaic: "He has not abandoned and will not abandon" — a phrase from the Hashkivenu prayer, used here as an expression of absolute trust in G‑d's ongoing protection] — He will not abandon us. Know that at Rabbainu's, of blessed memory, they mentioned us greatly and prayed for us — and especially on the eve of Rosh Hashana. Therefore you must be joyful and hope… that we shall merit next year in Jerusalem… And remember well what the holy Rebbe, of blessed memory, said: when Mashiach comes, they will recite the ten, etc. — and you understand enough." Therefore, my dear brother — one must yearn greatly, greatly, greatly — and not abandon oneself in any way.