IBAY HANACHAL

(Letters from Rav Oddesser to Zalman Shazar, former President of Israel)

LETTER SIX

With G-d's Help
6 Iyar 5719 [1959]
Tiberias
To the faithful one of my heart, Mr. Zalman Shazar, with a prominently high soul. Peace and great salvation. Hashem Yisborach [The Blessed Lord] thinks of ways that the estranged not become alienated from him. And when He sees that the person is falling to a place that is extremely low and distant from the Torah, in utter lowliness and unworthiness, and that the forces of evil and defilement are spreading out over him greatly and are surrounding him from every side and want to swallow him completely, G-d forbid, G-d forbid; precisely then Hashem Yisborach shows mercy upon him and sends there to him hints appropriate to that place. And He sends him a certain merit which he can attain precisely in that distant place. And that is his test and choice. And if there he will merit to remember Hashem Yisborach and to do there what Hashem Yisborach hints to him wherever he is, he easily can return to Hashem Yisborach!

The Tzaddik who is of extremely great stature, who has purified himself from everything, is not dead at all. For also after his passing he works to rectify the souls of Israel, even more than in his lifetime, since then he is rising constantly all the time to levels that are so high and wondrous and exalted that he can repair everything. For the main rectification must be received from the highest place, and each person, according to how very much he has damaged, G-d forbid, needs to receive the repair from a place even higher and more distant. And this is the aspect of "from afar Hashem appears to me;" from afar precisely, "from afar she will bring her bread." For the main rectification must be received from afar, from a place very much higher and more distant from him.

But the main thing is that we must break many obstacles before we merit to draw near to this Tzaddik, for the obstacles are very numerous and powerful without number. Especially the mental obstacles that exist: that people do not believe in the essence that they can receive rectification, because of their extensive damage each time, without measure, for many days and years. And even though they blame themselves for the damage, this also is a type of mental obstacle: that they do not believe in the greatness of Hashem Yisborach's kindnesses, which have never been completed or used up, and in the greatness of the True Tzaddik, who draws down wondrously new kindnesses each time, until everyone who wants to receive them can merit through him and can be repaired, even if he damaged what he damaged, G-d forbid.

The main illumination of the glory of God in the world is only through the Tzaddik, who finds righteousness in the majority of people and tries to draw near the distant and to return them to Hashem Yisborach. For this is the main glory of God, may His glory be elevated and increased in the world. Therefore every person needs to try hard to draw the estranged near to Hashem Yisborach. Also one should not say "how can I draw near to Hashem Yisborach when I am so distant because of the multitude of my evil deeds." For just the opposite: the further away one is, the more the glory of G-d is magnified through him when he tries to return and to draw near to the Blessed One, for this is the main glory of G-d.

The author and arranger, who prays always and every day for your peace and welfare, with all his heart and with self-sacrifice. Who seeks your peace and the peace of your dependents.

Yisroel Dov Odesser