3 Pre-Travel Anxiety

Understanding feelings of trepidation before traveling to Eretz Yisrael, and the joy that should accompany them

I am in receipt of your letter of June 22nd. I can well understand your feelings as the date of your visit to the Holy Land draws near, for even the non-Jew regards it as the “Holy Land” and would approach it with a certain trepidation. To the Jew it represents the “Palace” of the Supreme King, the Holy One, blessed be He.¹ surprising that you should have a feeling of awe as one would feel in the presence of an exalted majesty. This, at any rate, is how I interpret your feeling.

It is therefore not

However, it is explained in Chassidus that this feeling of awe and reverence (“Yiras ho-romemus”) is associated with an inner feeling of joy at the privilege of being in the presence of the Exalted and partaking of the Sublime.

Source: Photocopy of the original. Dr. Miriam (Leonie) Sachs (5668–5752/1908–1991) was a German Jewish intellectual and professor of Spanish and German language and literature. In the 1950s, she began exploring Jewish thought and befriended Rabbi Zalman Schachter, who introduced her to the Rebbe. She subsequently had several private audiences with the Rebbe and maintained an extensive correspondence with him. Throughout their correspondence, the Rebbe encouraged her to take the step from studying Judaism to observing it in practice. His encouragement bore fruit, and she eventually began observing various Mitzvos. In a letter dated Erev Shavuos 5723, the Rebbe personally arranged contacts for her upcoming visit to Eretz Yisrael, including Lubavitcher Chassidim who could assist her during her stay. Additional letters addressed to her are available on the Rebbe Responsa app.