1 A Mandatory Visa
Visiting the Holy Land requires a unique kind of “visa”
I am in receipt of your letter of February 13th. If you will let me know the Hebrew names, together with the mother’s Hebrew name in each case, of all those for whom you request a blessing, I will remember you all in prayer.
I trust it is unnecessary to emphasize to you at length that the daily life and conduct in accordance with the Will of G-d, namely in accordance with the Jewish way of Torah and Mitzvoth, in addition to being a must for its own sake, is also the channel to receive G-d’s blessings in all needs. Therefore, every additional effort in this direction, is bound to bring additional Divine blessings, and there is always room for advancement in all matters of goodness and holiness, Torah and Mitzvoth, which are infinite, being derived from, and connected with, the Infinite.
The above is particularly important since, as I note, you are planning to spend Pesach in Eretz Yisroel. As I had occasion to mention this to others, visiting another country often requires a visa, and the “visa” insofar as a country which is recognized even by non-Jews as the “Holy Land” is surely in terms of an extra measure of holiness. Our Rabbis speak of Eretz Yisroel as the “Palace of the Supreme King,”¹ and it is understandable that when a person is about to visit the palace of a king or a president, one makes appropriate preparations both in regard to dress and particularly conduct befitting the occasion. Thus, however satisfactory the position may be in regard to goodness and holiness, Torah and Mitzvoth, in one’s personal life, an extra measure of it is called for when visiting the Holy Land, both before and, certainly, during the visit.
Wishing you and your son a pleasant visit to the Holy Land in the above spirit and in every respect.
M. Schneerson
P.S. With regard to your desire to see me personally, there is really no need for it, since this letter is just as good. Besides, for reasons beyond my control, all appointments have been suspended for the time being.
Source: Photocopy of the original.
¹ Bamidbar Rabba 19:13; Yalkut Shimoni, Remez 867. Explore More: For further elaboration on the visa analogy, see English letters dated: [Before Parshas Kedoshim,] 5725; 3 Kislev, 5730, on the Rebbe Responsa app. Igros Kodesh, vol. 6, letter 1590; vol. 13, letter 4462; vol. 15, letter 5665; vol. 19, letter 7089. Hebrew letter dated 8 Kislev 5743 (Likkutei Sichos, vol. 24, p. 385). For additional letters on the spiritual preparation required before visiting the Holy Land, see English letters dated 19 Sivan 5713, 25 Sivan 5726; Igros Kodesh vol. 8, letter 2299, and vol. 15, letter 5482; Likkut Maanos Kodesh 5728, no. 189; Meotzar Hamelech, vol. 2, p. 127; Hebrew letter dated 20 Tammuz, 5713; et al.
