Sharing Good News
Important to share good news, but do not withhold information of temporary negative
By the Grace of G-d
5th of Kislev, 5728
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. Chaim Meir Friedland
18 Homestead Lane
Monsey, N. Y. 10952
Greeting and Blessing:
After not hearing from you for a very long time, I was pleased to receive your message, and I will remember you and all the members of your family in prayer, for the fulfillment of your hearts' desires for good.
Although you did not mention any details about your affairs, I trust that this is a good sign that the matters of Parnosso and good health - yours, your wife's and children - are satisfactory.
With regard to the beginning of your letter, I am sorry that apparently you did not quite understand me when I referred to sharing good news also. What I really meant is that when one has good news, it should be shared with others in praise of G-d, but I did not, of course, mean that when, G-d forbid, a Divine blessing has been withheld temporarily one should not write and tell me about it. If this applies to everyone, certainly it would apply to a long-time friend like yourself, a friendship which goes back to your father-in-law of blessed memory. In such a case a long silence is certainly not warranted, and even if things are not 100% as desired, there should be no hesitation to write about it. I trust that henceforth you will maintain a more frequent contact, and may G-d grant that the contents of your letters and messages should be of a happy nature.
Especially, as we have now entered the month of Kislev which is an auspicious month for the Jews in general, and for spreading the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth with Chassidic warmth, in particular.
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
