Receiving Good News should be a source of Joy; Moodiness is normal and not a reason to be discouraged; Blessing for Healthy Children; Connection to 19 Kislev and Chanukah
By the Grace of G-d
20th of Kislev, 5732
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Blessing and Greeting:
I am in receipt of your letter of the 12th of Kislev. I must say I was greatly surprised to note the mood in which your letter was written. Surely you realize that children are the greatest of all Divine blessings. Indeed, it is the first Mitzvah in the Torah ורבו פרו — “Be fruitful and multiply,” and the fact that it is the first Mitzvah and blessing in the Torah in itself is very significant and shows how important it is. Thus, the news of the expected addition in the family should have brought you considerable joy.
You wonder and are shocked at your reaction. But surely you know from your own previous experience when G-d had blessed you and you were in a similar condition, that it is natural in a state of pregnancy to have certain reactions, which have nothing to do with the blessing itself.
And just as there are certain physical reactions, such as, for example, a craving or dislike in regard to certain foods, so there could be also a certain moodiness and the like. At any rate, there is no basis at all to have a feeling of depression, nor to be discouraged by such a feeling if it does appear occasionally. I therefore am confident that this letter will find you in a much improved state of mind, and in full appreciation of this great Divine blessing with which you and your husband and family have been blessed.
May G-d grant that you should have an easy and normal pregnancy, and give birth to a healthy offspring at the proper time, and that, together with your husband, you should bring up all your children to a life of Torah, Chuppah and Good Deeds.
The present days are particularly auspicious, inasmuch as we are in the days between the 19th of Kislev and Chanukah, the history and significance of which are surely known to you. May each and every one of us be inspired to intensify the efforts to spread the fountains, both the fountains of Torah in general, and the fountains of Pnimius HaTorah in particular, in a growing measure.
Indeed, the Mitzvo of the Chanukah lights brings us vividly the three fundamental aspects such activity: a) to spread the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth in a growing measure from day to day, as indicated by the addition of a candle each succeeding night of Chanukah; b) to do so not only within one’s own home, but spread it also "outside", as indicated by the fact that the original place of the Chanukah lights is "at the entrance of his home, outside" c) when it is dark outside, one must not be discouraged, and that is precisely the time to start kindling the lights — as the Chanukah candles have to be kindled after sunset.
Wishing you and yours a bright and inspiring Chanukah
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
Source: Photocopy of original (published below).
10. Bereishis 1:29.
11. See also letter dated 5 Iyar, 5719, regarding some of the pregnancy and postpartum effects.
