By the Grace of G-d
12 Teves 5744
Dec. 18, 1983
Brooklyn, NY
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Dec. 5th. Since we have no facilities at our office to write in German, our reply comes in English.
In your letter you write about a young acquaintance, D.A., a Jew from Darmstadt, who is at present undergoing withdrawal treatment in Frankfurt. You ask how you can be of help to him after his completing the treatment.
Needless to say, first of all, you ought to communicate with the Jewish community in that city, since this would be within the sphere of its functions and activities.
As for the question what you, personally, could do for him, being a non-Jew, etc., I trust you know that every human being is orally obligated to order his everyday life and conduct in accordance with the Will of the Creator. For Jews, this means adherence to the teachings of the Torah with all its precepts. For gentiles it means adherence to the so-called Seven Noahide Moral Precepts, with all their ramifications, which were ordained by the Creator, and which must be the basis of every human society, if it is to be human.
To be kind and helpful to others is, thus, one of the most basic rules of all mankind. As for financial assistance, such help is necessarily limited by one’s financial means; but spiritually there is no limitation. Hence, you could be very helpful to the young man by strengthening his trust in G-d, Whose benevolent Providence extends to each and everyone individually. And since G-d is the Essence of Goodness, and “it is in the nature of the Good to do good,” it follows that G-d is always willing and able to do good to each and every person. However, it is up to the individual to provide the “channels and vessels” to receive G-d’s blessings. These “vessels” are, as mentioned, ordering one’s everyday life and conduct to be in fullest accord with the will of G-d.
In tangible terms, what the young man probably needs most at this time is a suitable job, to keep him busy as well as self-supporting. Here, perhaps, you may be helpful to him through your connections as a Rechtsanwalt [attorney] and prominent citizen.
In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere gratification as seeing your very kind interest to help a fellow human being, to the extent of taking the trouble to write in his behalf to someone overseas. May there be many like you.
With all good wishes, and With esteem and blessing,
