February 24, 1955
To my friend,
I read your letter from after Shabbat of this week, and it gives me pleasure that you need to disclose the states that pass over time from letter to letter. Certainly, the Creator will open our eyes with His law.
My view on that is that you should do more in love of friends. It is impossible to achieve lasting love, unless through Dvekut [adhesion], meaning that the two of you will unite in a tight bond. This can be only if you try to “undress” the clothing in which the inner soul is placed. This clothing is called “self-love,” for only this clothing separates two points. But if we walk on the straight path, the two points—which are discerned as two lines that refute one another—become a middle line that contains both lines together.
And when you feel that you are at war, each of you will know and feel that he needs the help of his friend, and without him, his own strength will wane, as well. Then, when you understand that you must save your life, each of you will forget he has a body he must preserve, and you will both be tied by the thought of how to defeat the enemy. Therefore, hurry, and the truth will show its way and you are certain to succeed.
And do continue corresponding.
Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag