Elevating the soul of a departed one; ideas to reflect upon before beginning to pray
By the Grace of G-d
14th of Elul, 5734
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. . . .
Minneapolis, Minn. 55416
Greeting and Blessing:
Your letter reached me with some delay. In it you acknowledge the letter of condolence on the passing of your grandfather, peace to him.
Judging by your letter, I trust it is unnecessary to emphasize to you that the greatest gratification to the soul of the dear departed, who is now in the World of Truth, is when those who are left behind conduct the daily life in the way of truth, the way of our Torah, called Toras Emes. Needless to say, there is always room for advancement in matters of Torah and mitzvos. I trust, therefore, that you will convey this idea to all the members of the family.
With regard to the second part of your letter, concerning the problem of kavono in prayer, the best way, and at the same time also the simplest way, of inducing kavono is to reflect for a few moments before beginning the prayers that one stands in the presence of G-d, and this is the time when G-d is ready to listen to this particular person praying to G-d, and to accept his prayers, disregarding how this person was a moment earlier. Furthermore, that this G-d is the G-d of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that He bestows “gracious kindness,” etc., as is the text of the Shmona Esrei.
It would be well for you to read carefully Chapter 24 of Iggeres HaKodesh of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya, which you no doubt have both in the original as well as the English translation (see it there in the English translation of Tanya, vol. 4, Pg. 2421).
With blessing of a Kasiva vaChasimo Tovo, for a good and sweet year.
Source: The Letter and the Spirit, Vol 3, 311. Note: Letters printed in "The Letter and the Spirit" are from the Archives of Rabbi Nissan Mindel A"H, the Rebbe's personal secretary entrusted with transcribing the Rebbe's orally dictated responses. The “Nissan Mindel Archives” are comprised of secretarial copies, including first drafts, and may have subsequently been published with editorial changes. Therefore the letters as they appear in the book may not be the final signed version.
See Shulchan Aruch, Admur HaZaken, 98:1.
