Like fish in water, Jews can function well only in atmosphere of holiness through Torah observance; rational understanding unnecessary for it to provide contentment and peace of mind
By the Grace of G-d
15th of Kislev, 5739
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Miss . . .
[Benei Berak]
Blessing and Greeting:
I am in receipt of your letter [of 7 Kislev] in which you write about your academic background, some highlights of your life and ask how to utilize your capabilities with a view to finding your due place in life.
In reply, by way of introduction:
You are privileged to live in the land which is universally recognized as the Holy Land and are a member of a people whom the Torah (also universally acknowledged as the Holy Book) designates as a Holy Nation.
This means that a Jew can function well only if he lives the kind of life which accords with his true essence, namely, in an atmosphere of holiness as prescribed by the Torah. Only then can a Jew be truly content, have peace of mind and cope with and find the proper solutions for whatever problems may arise in life. Our Sages cite the analogy of a fish in water, saying that just as a fish can function well only in its own element, water, so it is with a Jew and Jewishness.
Pursuing this analogy further, a fish surely does not understand the vital linkage between its wellbeing and the water and why, when taken out of its element, it feels frustrated, etc. So it is not important for a Jew to understand rationally how and why his wellbeing is bound up with his every day life and conduct in accordance with the Torah and Mitzvoth, whether he likes it or not and there is nothing he can do about changing the inevitable results of weakening this vital link, whatever the cause of that weakness is...
