Letters from the Rebbe

I find this quote from the letter to be particularly relevant:

"Even if the thought occasionally arises that time is being wasted on matters of medicine, rest, and the like,"........

I don't think that it would be unreasonable to interpret "and the like" to be referring to exercise. 

I received the report regarding the state of your health, and it is my hope that from day to day an improvement is being seen.

Surely, for one such as yourself, it is superfluous to emphasize the command of our Holy Torah—the 'Torah of Life'—which is that which grants the physician the authority to heal. From this, it is understood that one must fulfill the instructions of the doctor.

Even if the thought occasionally arises that time is being wasted on matters of medicine, rest, and the like, even a slight contemplation makes it clear—based on the aforementioned statement of our Sages—that this is not a waste. On the contrary: through the brief moment that (to fleshly eyes) is 'wasted,' much time is gained afterward, which can then be utilized with joy and a glad heart to serve G-d in 'all your ways.'

This follows the instruction of our Sages, which is explained in detail in the teachings of Chassidus, regarding the verse: 'In all your ways, know Him.'"

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In this letter the Rebbe talks about how to effectively change a behaviour.

Greetings and blessings!

In response to your letter from the 19th of Menachem Av, in which you ask for advice regarding your lack of order—specifically, that you decide to behave in a certain way but it does not last long and you change your conduct, which consequently causes confusion both for others and for yourself.

In general, changes such as these often occur because one decides on matters that are disproportionate to their current situation. That is to say, one desires to "leap" at a time when the regular order is "little by little I will drive them out"—to rise in holiness step by step. [This is excluding exceptional cases where the order is "skipping and jumping," even from one extreme to the other in a single hour or a single moment; however, this is not the "order of the daily offerings" (the consistent routine).]

Furthermore, a piece of advice to ensure the resolution and decision remain lasting is to connect oneself (m'farbindt zich) with a friend or a study partner (chavruta). This makes it difficult (macht enge) to fail in fulfilling the resolution, since doing so would cause unpleasantness for the other person; and this is easy to understand.

It is also understood that the Evil Inclination (Yetzer) endeavors to cause confusion even in the aforementioned work and conduct. On the contrary, from this itself, one must gain additional strength in the war against the Inclination. As is known from the meditation on the immense and diverse efforts of the Inclination to entice a person—since this is the purpose of its creation—the effort on the person’s part to fulfill the purpose of their own creation must be many times greater. As our Sages of blessed memory said: "I was created to serve my Maker."

And we have been promised: when a person sanctifies themselves a little from below, they are sanctified a great deal from above.

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In this letter the Rebbe addresses:

• Importance of physical health
• Listening to the doctor
• Suggestion for depression

It is well known how precious the health of a Jewish body is in the eyes of Hashem. Based on what we heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe [Yosef Yitzchak], of blessed memory: once, his father [the Rebbe Rashab] bared his arm and said to him, "See the great value of the body, for which so much Torah and Mitzvot have been poured [invested]."

Consequently, it is obvious that one must guard the health of one's body. Since this is one of the matters that the Torah has handed over to the physician—to instruct the proper order of eating, drinking, etc.—one must act according to their instructions. I do not understand what you wrote—that because of [health issues], you cannot engage in the service of prayer. If your intention is that you do not eat or taste anything before prayer: it is well known among the Acharonim (later Halakhic authorities), and so ruled our holy leaders, that where it is necessary for the health of the body, it is permissible to eat before prayer. Indeed, it is a Mitzvah and an obligation. This is especially true according to the saying of the Tzemach Tzedek:

"It is better to eat for the sake of prayer than to pray for the sake of eating."

Regarding the specifics of what to eat, speak with your Mashpia (spiritual mentor) and act according to his guidance and the doctors' instructions.

The same applies to what you wrote regarding your sadness (Atzvin). Surely this, too, can be easily corrected by taking walks frequently and similar activities. Most importantly, it is corrected through absolute trust (Bitachon) in Hashem, who leads each and every one of us—including yourself—on the path that rises toward the House of G-d.

One must strengthen their connection to Hashem and His Torah through the "three loves": Love of G-d, Love of Torah, and Love of Israel. Turn away from the path of melancholy (Mara Shachora), for this is a tactic of the Evil Inclination to confuse you and distract you from Torah and service—and primarily from the principle of "In all your ways, know Him."

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As I mentioned when I started posting the Rebbes letters, I reviewed volumes 1 to 32 and extracted over 300 letters that deal with health. The letter below is an exception. I did not find it. It found me. Not in the way you may think, that is, by choosing a volume and opening a random page. Before I tell you how it found me, I need to tell you the back story.

Several years ago, I wrote a series of articles about healthy living. They were published in a few Jewish websites and print publications. Around the beginning of one of the Rambam cycles I wrote some articles when everyone was learning Hilchos Deos. The first talked about the Mitzvah of taking care of oneself and how being a Mitzvah Hashem gives us the strength to fulfill it.  Another dealt with some of the excuses or “Yetzer Horos” that try to prevent us from fulfilling the Mitzvah. They were not easy articles to write. I’m not a Mashpia and who am I to talk about another person’s yetzer horo. But I drew upon my own experience and wrote them.

A few weeks after writing the articles imagine my surprise when a friend of mine approached me in Shul with a volume of Igros (letters) and said “Shmarya, have a look at this letter I just found”. Below is the letter he showed me. The first paragraph corresponded to my first article about the Mitzvah and the second paragraph corresponded to my second article about the Yetzer Horo trying to prevent us from accomplishing the Mitzvah. That’s what I meant when I said that the Letter found me! It was as if the Rebbe was reaching out and telling me that my articles were correct!

Translation

They should explain to him that a person is found in this world by the will of Hashem and on His mission: to do good in the world. Therefore, Hashem commanded, 'And you shall guard your lives very carefully' (and it is obvious that He gave the powers in their fullness—to fulfill the mission and the guarding).

From this, it is also understood that the Evil Inclination (Yetzer Hara) tries to confuse and prevent this. And it is obvious how precious and meritorious it is to fulfill Hashem’s mission and not to be affected by the Evil Inclination. I will mention [your names] at the Ohel (holy resting place).

A Small Hole in the Body......

Translation of highlighted section:

I am happy that you found an apartment, and I hope that you and your wife (may she live and be well) will feel good there, and that you will be able to utilize the time properly to strengthen your health—physical health in the literal sense. Among Jews, this also leads to health of the soul, as the Maggid of Mezeritch wrote to his son, Rabbi Abraham the Malach (Angel) who held very strongly of fasts and self-afflictions and was generally detached from the physical world—his father, the Maggid, would often argue with him, wanting to persuade him that he should not serve the Almighty in this way. The father wrote to the son that 'a small hole in the body makes a large hole in the soul.' We see this with our own physical eyes: those who wish to serve the Almighty and are free from the distractions of the body, such as weakness and the like, are able to have their service be complete.

Aside from this, it is explained in many books that the body is not a person's own property, but rather the Almighty's. Therefore, a person must see to it to guard and maintain the body in good condition (naturally, not at the expense of harming the soul). This is also why, according to Jewish law, one who causes themselves injury—harming their own body—is liable in the Heavenly Courts, even if a human court does not punish them. In the words of the Alter Rebbe: "A person has no permission over their body at all to strike it, nor to shame it, nor to cause it any pain whatsoever... unless it is done as a path of repentance, for this pain is a benefit to him to save his soul from destruction".

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Eating and Diet

 

Translation of highlighted section:

Regarding eating and diet—it is not so much a matter of what one eats (provided that it is properly Kosher), but rather the intent behind the eating: whether it is solely to satisfy a craving or hunger, or for the sake of being healthy and consequently performing good deeds, etc.

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In this letter the Rebbe addresses two points. 

1. Listening to the doctor, and 

2. Fasting

The letter was written in 1957. It's in Yiddish. I've provided an English translation with the help of Google Gemini.

B"H, 19th of Adar Sheni, 5717 Brooklyn.

Greeting and Blessing;

After a long hiatus, I was pleased to receive your letter from the 12th of Adar Sheni.

Regarding what you write concerning the words of the doctors:

It is a well-known principle and the conduct of every Jew that one must behave according to the instructions of our Holy Torah. Since our Sages of blessed memory tell us that "The Torah has given the physician the permission [and authority] to heal," this is a clear indication that the physician is a messenger (shliach). Even if the messenger does not always know the "inner intent" [of the Mission], nevertheless, that which the messenger says regarding the practical action stems from the Sender (the Almighty). In this way, [following medical advice] is a matter of Torah.

It is therefore understood that even if one does not entirely understand, or if there are questions regarding the messenger—along the lines of what you wrote in your letter—this should have no influence on your compliance in doing what the doctor says. Therefore, I am certain that upon receiving this letter, you will begin to comply and do as the doctor says. May Hashem grant that this compliance and acting according to the doctors instructions shall bring extraordinary success in all matters.

It is also self-evident that the conduct of not eating on time, eating only once a day, and the like, is not at all the path of the Baal Shem Tov. We have heard many times from our holy Rebbes and leaders that the rule is "Azov Taazov Imo" (You shall surely help him)—[meaning one must work] with the body, but not through fasts and self-mortification.

I hope to receive a swift reply from you stating that you are starting to do as mentioned above. May it be [G-d's] will that it be with success.