On June 29, (3 Tammuz), Jews around the world will mark the 31st Yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. As the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement for over four decades, the Rebbe revolutionized Jewish outreach worldwide, establishing thousands of institutions and sending emissaries to every corner of the globe to strengthen Jewish identity and practice. Widely seen as one of the most influential rabbis in modern history, his impact transformed Jewish life in over 100 countries and all 50 states. Beyond his global leadership, the Rebbe was also known for his extensive personal counselling, which was recently compiled into a bestselling book: “Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.”
Written by 27-year-old Hasidic scholar Levi Y. Shmotkin, Letters for Life draws from the Rebbe’s vast correspondence and personal interactions in which he offered guidance and advice to those facing life’s greatest challenges. Through practical guidance and insightful anecdotes, the book presents twelve overarching principles for promoting inner wellness and navigating life’s complex emotions. As we approach this Yahrzeit, it’s fitting to reflect on the Rebbe’s profound insights into mental and emotional wellness. Here are some powerful teachings that remain as relevant today as they were decades ago.
1. Transform Your Pain into Purpose for Others
The Rebbe advised Israeli fighter pilot Menachem Eini, held captive by Egypt for three years, to write a memoir of his captivity. After his release, despite appearing to recover well outwardly, Eini suffered from severe inner turmoil. When he finally met with the Rebbe, something remarkable happened during their conversation. The Rebbe explained: “Unfortunately, you will probably not be Israel’s last prisoner of war, and others who will be taken captive will benefit from reading about your experience.” The Rebbe understood that our deepest struggles, when shared, can become sources of healing for others facing similar challenges. Eini and the other captive soldiers eventually wrote about their painful experience and were able to connect to their own inner strength, to a sense of enduring hope and to the shared experience in captivity that helped them survive.
2. Look Outward for Healing, Not Just Inward
The Rebbe often drew upon a Kabbalistic teaching that the universe is ordered on a principle of “give and take” to illustrate that each of our “personal universes” are based on a similar balance of forces. He explained that when we focus exclusively on our own needs, we become like a “black hole,” as he told physicist Herman Branover, “turning everything inward, drawing all of its energy toward itself.” Individuals struggling with depression or melancholy often received advice from the Rebbe to turn their focus outward. Instead of looking for the world to solve their problems, they should instead look to use their unique gifts and talents to help someone else. This had the benefit of both taking their mind away from the specific negative thoughts and ideations, while also infusing a sense of meaning and purpose in the person that would give them a long term state of wellbeing.
3. Remember You’re Never Alone
The Rebbe identified loneliness as a core human struggle. A widow from Nashville once wrote to the Rebbe about her feelings of deep loneliness lighting Shabbat candles alone. The Rebbe simply responded: “You don’t have to feel lonely—G-d Almighty is with you all the time.” That advice changed her perspective, and when asked about her loneliness, she replied “Come on now, G-d is always with me.” Her son observed “she was not lonely in the same way anymore.”
4. Embrace Your Unique Divine Mission
The Rebbe believed that each person’s specific circumstances, talents, and opportunities were divinely orchestrated for their unique purpose and that everyone has an indispensable role to play in making the world a better place. A UCLA autism researcher struggling to find her purpose wrote to the Rebbe. In her letter, she referred to her “secular” research job, a word which the Rebbe crossed out, instead writing: “the purpose of which is the emotional wellbeing and healing of children.” This perspective applies to people in all fields—whether in education, healthcare, business, or any field—which carries profound meaning when viewed as part of one’s divine mission.
5. Don’t Battle Dark Thoughts—Redirect Them
The Rebbe’s approach to negative thinking was counterintuitive. Rather than fighting disturbing thoughts, he advocated “hesech hada’at”—complete mental diversion. As he explained “When the troubling thought arises in the mind, do not give it any heed; do not delve into the thought or do battle with it. Rather, push it aside by thinking about something else.” This perspective connects with several of the other themes above. When one focuses on their divine mission, serving others, and other acts of kindness, it allows them to divert their attention away from the negative thoughts and onto the positive.
6. Choose Joy as a Divine Calling
Rather than seeing happiness as circumstance-dependent, the Rebbe taught that joy is a choice and spiritual obligation. Drawing on Kabbalistic teachings, he explained that good is “inherently real and thus unlimited and eternal” while bad is “ultimately transient.” We must consciously “choose from the mix” of good and bad in every situation.
A Timeless Legacy
The six tips above are just a small snapshot of the tools and strategies presented in Letters for Life. As thousands worldwide celebrate the Rebbe’s enduring legacy on his 31st Yahrzeit, his timeless teachings provide a blueprint for navigating our turbulent times. They remind us that emotional wellness isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about recognizing our inherent strength, connecting to our greater purpose, and contributing to something greater than ourselves.