Group None

My friends: I am quite astonished that you held back from writing to me. You have not told me at all about applied [Mussar] study, about which I often bother you [to tell me] how it goes with you. You know my heart yearns to inject this much-needed thing – applied [Mussar] study – in the hearts of those who fear God. Some time ago I asked my friend, R.G., may his light shine, to inform me about this, but he hasn’t answered me at all. Now you have acted foolishly.1Compare Genesis 31:28. So I lay before you my request: respond to me thoroughly on this matter by return mail. I will tell you: it seems we need to know some halakha from Yoreh De’ah2Yoreh De’ah, lit. “will teach knowledge” (see Is. 28:9), is one of the four sections of Shulḥan Arukh, the authoritative code of Jewish law, which includes ritual laws of kashrut and family purity, and a range of other laws concerning topics like returning lost articles, charity, mourning, conversion, the land of Israel, honoring parents and teachers, etc.This reference to practical law reflects R. Salanter’s continuing stress that knowing the law is the key to proper ethical behavior and that, in studying the laws, one should focus on their practical application. in order to perform the mitzva of returning lost articles. I present one matter for example….

This is just as I have spoken to you.3Compare Genesis 42:14. As regards observance of the law, to be one who “turns away from evil” – for this is the first duty in the service of God – one must seek to know whatever possible and to correct whatever possible as soon as possible, before we are caught in the coils of temptation. We pray for this every day.4“Lead us not into infraction or sin…nor into temptation…” (the conclusion of the morning blessings; see Berakhot 60b). How can we dare ask it of God when we ourselves make no effort to remove the obstacles – we who have been charged to “study and teach”5Avot 4:5 as well as the blessing prior to the recitation of the Shema in the morning. so that the learning is applied in practice? After all, the essential superiority of study over action is that study leads to action.6See Kiddushin 40a–b, where the Talmud discusses whether learning or action is superior, and concludes that learning is superior, as it leads to action. It would be worthwhile to expand on this. Thus, I look forward to your letter in the earliest post. Read my letter carefully and correct the errors in it. And may God be with you.[Act in accordance with the urging of] your soul and the soul of your friend who anticipates your letter.Israel, son of our rabbi and teacher, R. Zev Wolf, may his light shine.