A Comprehensive Torah Letter on Charity — From Likutay Moharan and Likutay Halachos

After warmly greeting you with great love — I received in proper order his dear letter with the hachnasas kallah — 33 dollars. And how greatly he has given me life thereby. For our situation cannot be assessed — for we are very close to the wedding — and still the apartment has not been redeemed [i.e., the deposit for rented accommodation has not been paid] — which costs many thousands of lira — and likewise the furniture and the clothing have not been redeemed — and likewise the other many wedding expenses. May G‑d have compassion. Please — do everything possible in this — and also arouse the dear fellowship to assist with everything possible — and especially our dear and elevated companion R' Eliezer Shlomo son of Malka, may he live — and the Chassid R' Tzvi — and R' Meir Kalmanowitz — and the rest of the fellowship — to assist in this with all their strength.

And see in the Holy Zohar, Parashas Vayeitzei, page 141b — and it is cited in the study of Chok L'Yisrael, Parashas Vayeitzei, day two — in the study of the Holy Zohar — regarding the greatness of the matter of charity. Study it there. And in the Sefer HaMiddos it is cited: that to sweeten the judgment of the great Day of Judgment — this is through charity. And in Torah 4 in Likutay Moharan — "and the ravens" [ואת העורבים — I Kings 17:4; Torah 4 in Likutay Moharan discusses charity as the vehicle for opening all the gates and subduing all denials and doubts in faith] — the greatness of charity: that it opens all the gates — and subdues all the denials and doubts in faith — only through charity. Study it well. And Torah 17 in Likutay Moharan — "and it was that they were emptying their sacks" [Genesis 42:35; the end of this Torah teaches that the essential purification of the vessel of action — through which the intellect is elevated and raised — and the essential enduring foundation — is charity]. And the general principle: the greatness of charity cannot be assessed — as cited in all the holy books — both from the Sages of the Talmud, from the Holy Zohar, from the holy Ari, and from all the Tzadikim. And from the words of Rabbainu, of blessed memory, in his holy books — and in Likutay Halachos — what one merits through this — which cannot be measured or assessed at all. That through this — one can merit everything one needs — both in material and spiritual matters. And especially: such charity — for Eretz Yisrael — and for the fellowship who desire to draw close to Rabbainu, of blessed memory. Hachnasas kallah — to establish a home in Israel. The greatness of the success of the soul in this cannot be assessed. And especially — to rejoice in the mitzvah. For the matter of the greatness of performing the mitzvah in joy cannot be measured or assessed — as is cited from the holy Ari: that all of his great levels — he merited only through performing the mitzvos in joy. And that this is the first condition for performing the mitzvos — to perform them in joy — more than anything. That is: to rejoice in the mitzvah more than one would gain all the wealth of the world. For this is the essential remainder that is left to a person in this world. For everything is vanity — and nothing accompanies a person — neither silver nor gold, etc. — only Torah and mitzvos and good deeds which he performed in this fleeting passing world. And what one acquires in this world — is the preparation for worlds of worlds and eternity upon eternity. And from this — all the great Tzadikim — like R' Yochanan ben Zakkai in the Talmud — who wept and said: "The road is long" [Talmud Bavli, Brachos 28b — for the preparation in this world is for worlds of worlds and eternity upon eternity] "and the provision for the road is light — we have none." And what shall we say? But one must strengthen oneself and rejoice in what one merits to do — for the good measure is greater. And ultimately nothing remains of a person — except what he snatched of some good in this world.

Therefore — one must greatly rejoice in this: that we have merited to draw close to Rabbainu the Holy one — who awakens us and strengthens us to snatch in this world everything that we can. And "a penny and a penny join into a great account." [Talmud Bavli, Bava Basra 9b] That is: simply in the matter of charity — that every penny joins into a great account — for this is sowing in good soil that grows double and redouble — in the aspect of "sow for yourselves in charity." [Hosea 10:12] And likewise — all matters of mitzvos and good deeds — which are also called "charity" — for one does thereby charity with the Divine Presence and with all Israel. And especially: charity with his own soul — for it is the entire desire and purpose of the soul — to do the will of G‑d. And this is "a penny and a penny": every small thing in the service of Hashem — both charity, and Torah, and prayer, and all mitzvos and good deeds — joins into a great account. And through this is understood what is cited in the holy books: that a person who performs a mitzvah does not need to rejoice in that mitzvah alone — but must rejoice in the many more mitzvos he will thereby perform. For "one mitzvah brings another." And likewise the reverse — when a person transgresses, G‑d forbid — he need not mourn and worry over that transgression alone — but over the many more transgressions, G‑d forbid, that he will thereby commit. For "one transgression brings another," G‑d forbid. And through this — the counsel: if a person has fallen, G‑d forbid, to whatever he has fallen — to a transgression in thought or speech or action, G‑d forbid — and to what he has fallen, G‑d forbid, even to the lowest depths: to break the chain of transgressions through a mitzvah. To perform immediately some mitzvah. And to do repentance with remorse, with a sigh, with verbal confession before G‑d. And to cut off the evil immediately — the thought: to stop thinking about it and to think another thought. And regarding looking: to close one's eyes immediately from this. And so with all other matters — as is self-understood. And this too is "a penny and a penny" — every hairsbreadth that a person severs himself from evil and flees from transgressions — both from evil thoughts and from improper looking, etc. — joins into a great account. For one who prevents himself from evil — and "turns from evil" — is considered as having done good. For one who sits and does not transgress — is also considered as having performed a mitzvah. And for this too — charity is very effective. For through it — one is saved from sins — as is cited in the books and in Likutay Moharan and in the Sefer HaMiddos. And also through it — transgressions are atoned for — as is cited in Daniel: "and your sins redeem through charity." [Daniel 4:24] May Hashem grant us everything we need to merit in this world — in the merit of Rabbainu the Holy one. For connection to him — and to all the other true Tzadikim — surpasses everything.

His friend — who greets him and wishes him all goodness forever: Shmuel HaLevi Horowitz.