The Importance of Good Friends

The following unfortunate “Vort” is said about a person upon who it is decreed to be distanced from Hashem – Chas VeSholom. First, he is distanced from Hashem, then from his Rabbeim, then from his Chaveirim. For as long as he has his friends to be Mekareiv him there is still hope for him.

The Ponivizsher Rov ZY”A would say “Biz Tzum Shiktzoh – until intermarriage” as at that point it is the red line past return to the Jewish fold. (One can never nullify his Jewishness, but he can be desecrated, and ruin his generations).