The Rebbe writes to soldiers, widows, and orphans

I recently looked at the introduction to volume 29 of Igrot Kodesh (Letters of the Lubavitcher Rebbe). It summarizes the Rebbe’s efforts to bolster Israel’s spirit before and after the Yom Kippur War. It brought me back to those days, and reminded me of what I saw and heard then.

During the summer before the war, the Rebbe asked that children should  be gathered together at the Western Wall and other places, to recite verses of Torah and prayer, and to give coins to charity. He said that the reason for doing this, is based on the verse in Psalms (8; 3) “From the mouths of babes and sucklings You established strength …  to vanquish the enemy and avenger.”

I remember at the time, that no one understood why the Rebbe kept quoting that verse. Later, after the war broke out, the Rebbe said that he didn’t know why he was pushed to use that verse and to encourage the children’s gatherings, but now he understood why, and that it was a kind of “prophesying without knowing what he was prophesying.”

I remember that after Yom Kippur, and during the festival of Sukkot, the Rebbe encouraged us to be joyful. He explained that beside it being a Mitzvah to be happy on the festival, it also can elicit blessings from above. He based this on the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov, based on the verse “G-d is your shadow” (Psalm 121; 5), that just as a shadow does whatever a person does, similarly G-d does what we do. So when we are happy, G-d also manifests happiness, and this speeds His salvation for us.

The Rebbe encouraged his followers to visit and bolster the spirits of soldiers at the front, orphans, widows, and the wounded. And he sent letters to uplift them.

Those letters are timely for these days.

Here are some (translated) excerpts.

(The original Hebrew letters can be accessed at: https://hebrewbooks.org/58800    Pages י, עז, קיט)

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To soldiers of the IDF:

May it be that very soon, you should relate good news, goodness that is seen and revealed, in all matters that you write about, and the main thing, that G-d, Creator of the world which He conducts, should fulfill the desire of your heart, and the heart of each and every one, for good — as it says in verses in His Torah, the Torah of life and truth: “I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and not tremble … and no sword will pass through your land … and I will place my dwelling place in your midsts … and I will be a G-d for you, and you will be a nation for me … and I will cause you to walk upright.” (Leviticus 26; 6 – 13). And great is the merit of each one who protects our holy land and our holy nation, in order to hasten the fulfillment of this blessing in the best way; as it says that G-d your G-d walks in your encampment in order to save you and to deliver your enemies before you, and your encampment should be holy. (Deuteronomy 23; 15) And especially via your great trust in G-d, the source of hope of Israel and their Saviour etc. and you should not be afraid or scared etc. as it says: “Your hearts shall not be faint, you shall not be afraid or alarmed or terrified from them.” (See Maimonides the laws of kings chapter seven — as it says there at length.)

(The Rebbe concludes the letter with encouragement to do the Mitzvah of Tefillin, and a blessing to relate good news in the above with health and happiness.)

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To widows of those who fell in the Yom Kippur War:

With sorrow I was informed of the tragedy of your husband’s passing, may the Almighty avenge his blood.

May it be that from now on the family should experience only goodness and kindness, a seen and revealed goodness. Even though you probably heard the following from others, I still want to express the feelings in my heart, at least briefly, with an introductory remark that my intention with this letter is not to answer questions, rather to ease the pain, at least a bit.

The point herein is, that the connection between a person and their very dear friend, how much more so between a husband and wife, and children with their father, is not with the physical body which is composed of flesh veins and bones, but rather (the connection is) with the characteristics of the soul and spirit, which are the main entity of a person — their essence and essential being. It’s just that the connection between people happens via the medium of the body and limbs, eyes ears hands and speech etc., that via and through them a person expresses their thoughts, feelings, and characteristics of the soul, which are the main essence of a person, as mentioned above.

It’s understood that a revolver’s bullet or a shell fragment, or sickness and the like affect and harm the body, but these are not able to harm or even degrade the spirit and the soul. Death caused by a bullet or sickness effects a separation between the body and the soul, but the soul continues living, eternal life, and continues its connection with family members, especially those who are most beloved, and feels sorrow in their sorrow and happiness with all matters of happiness in the family. It’s only that the family members who are living in this world don’t see this reaction with physical eyes and they aren’t able to feel it with their hands, since the physical connection was severed.

From this it’s also understood that the soul which is in the world of truth has special pleasure when it sees that family members are recovering from the tragedy and are trying as much as they can to arrange their lives in a good way; and just the opposite, that they encourage those around them; and in general every good action that is done by family members gives a special feeling of contentment to the soul which is in the world of truth and it sees and knows about these actions.

And there is a special and increased feeling of contentment for the soul when it sees the children being educated with a proper education, without hopelessness G-d forbid and without being demoralized G-d forbid, but just the opposite, in the traditional expression — to raise them to Torah and marriage and good deeds, that for sure the abilities necessary for this are given to all those who were given this mission to accomplish it fully.

And may it be that you will accomplish all the above with energy and vitality and you should be a living example to all those around you, and your husband’s merit should stand by you and all your household may they be well.

With blessing to arrange things well and for good news in all the above.

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A widow asked: How can I explain to my children that their father’s death in battle is also G-d’s will?

The Rebbe replied:
Regarding the children’s question that you wrote about — Explain to them (as is the truth) that there are souls which are so pure that G-d blessed be He wants that they should be in heaven, after they completed their mission on earth and they defended the children of Israel living in the land of Israel, and in heaven they intercede for goodness on behalf of all those who are close to them and especially for their children, and they ask G-d that their children should succeed in studies and conduct etc. and when the children conduct themselves this way — this brings contentment and pleasure to the soul which is alive and exists etc.

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There is also a letter (on page לז in the Igrot Kodesh) addressed to the wounded.

May we very soon see the complete Redemption with Moshiach.