A Bachur Does Not Decide for Himself

A young man asks if he should follow his own preference as to where to study and is gently but firmly redirected: a yeshiva bachur is not guided by personal will, but by the guidance of his teachers. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-19.pdf

In this letter, the Rebbe thanks the noted Hebrew author Eliezer Steinman for writing about Chabad Chassidus—but then adds a deeper point. To write about something truthfully, it’s not enough to understand it intellectually. You have to live it. Only when an idea becomes part of your own experience can you express it in a way that resonates most effectively with others. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-18.pdf

The Rebbe responds to a report of someone feeling spiritually discouraged. He explains that a feeling of brokenness can sometimes be constructive—like a seed that must first decay in the ground before it can grow—but only if it leads to renewed effort and increased action in Yiddishkeit. If, however, it weakens a person’s resolve and diminishes their activity, it is not healthy bitterness but harmful sadness. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-17.pdf

The spiritual "offering" (Korban) is the process of drawing near to G-d by harnessing and dedicating one’s animalistic drive—the "animal soul"—to holiness, which elicits a light far higher than the godly soul can reach alone. Throughout history, the enemy Amalek uses two tactics—direct coldness toward spiritual passion and a deceptive "Canaanite" disguise that encourages Jews to secularize their mundane lives. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Vayikra in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1. 📄 PDF of Sicha: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2279492... 📄 PDF of Sicha in English by SIE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BVvg6G0Daba-qxrp69wkjsBs5LSvIH_M/view 📖 Buy Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1 at Kehot: https://store.kehotonline.com/mobile/...

A man writes that he has “never seen good in his life.” The Rebbe sharply challenges this claim: a person blessed with a spouse and children walking in the path of Torah cannot call himself deprived. Ingratitude blinds one to visible blessings—and may itself block further blessing in health and livelihood. Gratitude and joy reopen the channel. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-16.pdf

In a powerful letter to an educator discouraged by what he perceived as a lack of success in influencing his students, the Rebbe explains why despair is more dangerous than being overly satisfied. Influence, especially on youth, is never wasted—even if the results only become visible years later. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-15.pdf

The first letter of the evening, to a yeshiva bachur, explains how acceptance of Hashem’s yoke begins with disciplined adherence to the yeshiva’s daily schedule, without exceptions—even for seemingly holy reasons. Consistent structure, he explains, gradually cultivates genuine inner submission and spiritual growth. In tonight's second letter, the Rebbe addresses the letter writer’s discouragement about finding a match, insisting both the possibility and the path exist—and urging him not to delay pursuing a shidduch through proper intermediaries. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-13-14.pdf

When a person feels a strong urge to help the public, how can he know if the motive is truly pure? The Rebbe explains why overanalyzing intentions can actually block good action—and offers a practical test for recognizing when a thought comes from a healthy source. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-12.pdf

The Rebbe firmly redirects a writer who had become interested in mystical “segulos,” urging him to abandon such paths and return to a far more reliable source of wisdom. In the same letter, he also challenges the writer’s assumption that he lacks the ability to make a meaningful difference in helping others. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-11.pdf

When people unexpectedly come into one’s life, it may reflect a deeper spiritual purpose. Just as physical food contains a divine spark that nourishes the soul, encounters between people can be opportunities to help another Jew strengthen their connection to Yiddishkeit. PDF Link: https://www.soulwords.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30-letters-30-days-10.pdf