Improved health of daughter; connection between spiritual and physical health, particularly among Jews; encouraging Jewish patients towards a healthy spiritual life
By the Grace of G-d
14th of Teveth, 5719
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dr. Ephraim Jaffe
3 Oakwell Drive
Bury Old Road
Salford 8, Lancs.
Greeting and Blessing:
I received your letter of Dec. 12th, with the good tidings about the improvement in your daughter's condition. May G-d send her a speedy and complete recovery, and that you and your wife should bring her up to a life of Torah, Chuppah and Good Deeds, in good health and with true Nachas.
As you are a physician, I need not enlarge to you upon the intimate connection between the physical and the spiritual, and the dependence of even the physical organism on the good health of the soul, though the latter is in itself a very desirable thing. All the more in Jews who derive their very life and strength from the Torah, which is called "Toras Chayim," and the Mitzvoth, of which it is written,
"and they shall live by them." I therefore trust that in trying to help your Jewish patients in their physical disorders, you will help them also by encouraging them towards a healthy spiritual life of Torah and Mitzvoth.
Hoping to hear good news from you always,
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
Vayikra 18:5.
About Dr. Ephraim Jaffe
Dr. Ephraim Jaffe (5681-5777) was a respected geriatrician and Jewish community leader in North Manchester. He devoted himself to Jewish communal life—serving as medical officer to numerous institutions, examining thousands of prospective immigrants to Israel, and playing a central role at Higher Crumpsall and Higher Broughton Synagogues. Through his brother, the famed Chabad activist Zalmon Jaffe, the Rebbe would often send him communications, and keep abreast of his activities. Additional letters addressed to him include those dated 29 Tammuz, 5719 and 16 Kislev, 5720.
Source: Photocopy of the original, courtesy of Rabbi Pinny Lew.
