Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe

by Levi Y. Shmotkin, Chabad.org

“An extraordinary book.”
—The Jerusalem Post

“A transformative masterpiece.”
—The San Diego Jewish World

“The Rebbe’s powerful guidance, related beautifully in this book, is sure to enrich the emotional life of all who read it.”
—Dr. Edith Eva Eger
Clinical psychologist and bestselling author of ‘The Choice.’

“Human life on this earth is unfortunately not free from various factors that bring about unhappiness,” the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote frankly in a letter. But how can we cope with the inevitable challenges that threaten our peace of mind?

The Rebbe, the preeminent Jewish leader of modern times, was confronted with this question every day. Lonely teenagers, elderly seniors, Holocaust survivors, incarcerated individuals, and anyone in between, would pour out their hearts to him and ask for direction. Drawing from 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom, the Rebbe would firmly and lovingly advise each of them how to attain inner health, harmony, and wholeness.

This treasure of guidance has been largely inaccessible to the broader reading public. Letters for Life changes that.

After years of studying the Rebbe’s vast correspondence, conducting interviews, and sifting through the archives, Levi Shmotkin shares with us twelve themes on emotional wellness from the Rebbe’s counsel. They are clear, sensible, and sometimes surprising tools for building a strong and resilient self despite life’s setbacks.

Through poignant excerpts from letters, compelling stories, and practical takeaways, Letters for Life makes the Rebbe’s wisdom accessible to all. It is an enlightening and enthralling read for any person seeking emotional equilibrium in an off-balanced world.

Genres: Judaism

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2025

Reviews

[Bonnie Lieberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a collection of letters and anecdotes from the Lubavitcher Rebbe offering emotional wellness. Make the world a better place. You get what you give. You are never alone. G-d is always with you. Change the world from brokenness to wholeness. You were endowed to uplift and sanctify your own mind and body. Think about your talents and knowledge. You have a purpose. Reflect upon it. I am engrossed and trying to absorb every word so that I can apply them to myself and lead a life where I give and take. EXCELLENT READ





























































This is a collection of letters and anecdotes from the Lubavicher Rebbi that offers guidance for emotional wellness. Increase good in the world just by daily living. Move in the right direction to begin leading a productive live. Everyone should acquire the knowledge to use his unique talents. Have a purpose. Think about your talents, expertise and knowledge that were given to you to uplift your mind and succeed at tasks. Remember G-d is always with you. You are never alone. This advice is practical, relatable and easily understood. I am reading it slowly and processing every word, so I can apply it to my life.

[Sherrie Cohen Epstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joining Chabad post 2008, I didn't know much about the movement. In the past 20 years, I've heard stories and references to the Rebbe and his infamous letters. This book pulled back the curtains a bit to shed light and detail on these letters. The author grouped into buckets to make it easily digestible. Here are some of my take aways:

SEE OTHERS
'The black hole turns everything inward, drawing all energy towards itself. The sun...radiates energy outward, illuminating others.'

KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE
G-d is always with you

RECOGNIZE YOUR UNIQUE ROLE
If you have a talent, no matter the field, use it to spread the light of the Torah. If you do not, you are harming creation because G-d is entrusting you to use your talents and strengths to do good in the world.

BUILD HEALTHY HABITS
Your body doesn't belong to you. G-d is entrusting in you to take care of it properly. The body is G-d's property on loan as a deposit. Do not harm it or abuse it.

'To truly achieve inner peace, one must free themselves of work stresses, return to nature, and live in a state of mediative transcendence and undisturbed emotional quiet.'

'It's worse to be alone in Paradise thank [in Hell] with others'

'To achieve optimal mental health, it is imperative to maintain a healthy body, a productive work ethic, an organized schedule, and a socially connected life.'

BE SPIRITUALLY ANCHORED
'No matter our conscious thoughts, no matter our overt behaviors, underneath them lies an unflinching soul that yearns to do what is just and avoid all that is wrong.'

In today's fast changing world, things can seem volatile (stock market, politics, illness/plagues, cutting edge science, revolutionary technology) and we are left with a lingering anxiety. Integrating spirituality into our daily lives significantly improves mental health.

ALL Jewish children should receive a Jewish education despite any handicaps (the book uses the word retarded as that was the reference during this time period)

DISCONTENT
'This world will always be composed of good and bad... Life will never give you only reasons for happiness. Take a step back and look at the broader picture of your life - all those tremendous treasures and blessings hiding in plain sight.'

WORRY
'G-d will bless you in all that you do.' You must take action! 'G-d wills a world where His divine energy is not in conflict with the natural order but rather flows and works through natural channels.'

'Think good and it will be good'

The way to ease one's stress is complete trust in G-d. 'G-d is my shepherd, I will lack nothing'

SELF CRITICISM
Prohibit lashon hara to yourself. 'everyone has a divine soul that is part of G-d and even at the time of failure, it remains connected to G-d'

DON'T BATTLE, PIVOT
Constantly thinking about a problem only gets in the way of overcoming it.

THE COURAGE TO CHANGE
The Rebbe believed in each person and no matter how 'hopeless and pitiful they felt, the Rebbe tried to instill in them a firm confidence in their own potential to transcend their current situation'

ENDNOTES
6. Why is the heart on the left when, it Jewish tradition, everything good is on the right side? We give mitzvot with our right hand. 'Because it's the right side of the person across from you. for your heart beats not for you but for the other, for the fellow man whom you must love as yourself.'

24. why did G-d reveal himself to Moses in a thorny bush? 'G-d wanted to teach us that He is present in 'thorny bushes' as well'

Upon waking in the morning, a Jew should 'place G-d before me always' A person who finds themself in front of a king behaves and speaks differently than when he is with his family and friends. Realizing you are in the presence of a king reminds you that you 'that the King has honored and privileged [you] with very important tasks, emphasizing the importance of every individual.'

34. Success and attainment depends on inner peace and harmony.

38. G-d has not created anything in His world without a purpose. Every person has been allotted a certain number of days and years. Everyone has been given certain capacities and an allotted period of time to fulfill a particular task or mission while in this world.

58. What is the difference between the spiritual and material world? perception. (and the difference on one Hebrew letter in the two words)

71. Per the Torah, a person needs to live their life in order. This includes everything from waking up, eating, studying, relationships. You must live your live as orderly as possible

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I usually don't read a lot about the Lubuvitcher (Chabad) Rebbe (now of blessed memory) I respected him while he lived and I am still interested in his writings. However, I am not a Lubuvitcher. I'm glad to pray with them, but I have technical disagreements with them here and there. I tell you that just so you will know that I am not a fanboy. I just liked this book a lot.

FYI, this is not just a presentation of letters. The author provides good advice himself based on what the Rebbe wrote in response to the letters. He also attempted to show how to apply those lessons to one's daily life. It all made perfect sense to me.

If you are looking for some sort of self-help book that won't lead you astray religiously or psychologically then this is your book.

I would also recommend self-help books by Dr. Abraham J. Twerski (of blessed memory). He was a psychiatrist at a drug and alcohol rehab facility and a Lubuvitcher rabbi as well. I met him many years ago. He was like everyone's grandfather. You just wanted to hug him. He was so nice.

One of his books that I own is "Waking up Just in Time: A Therapist Shows How to use the Twelve Steps Approach to Life's Ups and Downs". I recommend it as a good start.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal, inspiring read, especially given what I'd been through the last few years. While maybe not a book for everyone, certainly a book for Jews and one I plan to add to my personal library.

[Yonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot to take away from this and apply in my own life, even though I’m not a very religious person

[Andrea Karshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Very inspirational.

[David Kotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a while, I thought I had lost this book. As it turned out, my mom had taken it from me because she enjoyed reading it so much. Good stuff.

[Ben Rothke · Rating 5 out of 5]

That the Lubavitcher Rebbe was one of the most remarkable minds of the last 100 years is not news. However, Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Ezra Press), written by Levi Y. Shmotkin, reveals that the Rebbe was not just a world-class Talmudic scholar and philosopher, but a man of profound thoughts and common sense.
In the incredible book Nafshi BiShe'elati: The Halakhot of Mental Health, authors Rabbi Yonatan Rosensweig and Dr. Shmuel Harris, MD, write that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach said that “When I was growing up, a sick person needed warmth, food, and drink.
In the numerous letters in the book, not only did the Rebbe offer warmth, but he also shared deep insights into the human psyche, the nature of human spirituality, and much more. While he was not a mental health professional, the Rebbe understood intimately well the human condition.
The quest for peace of mind is a universal phenomenon. Perhaps the best example is Israelis who finish their army service and go to the Far East for peace of mind and discovery of their inner selves. The quest for peace of mind spans every age, class, culture, and background.
Positive psychology demonstrates how our outlook, combined with positive spiritual practices, can positively impact a person's overall well-being. It became a new domain within psychology in 1998, 4 years after the death of the Rebbe.
The book demonstrates how the Rebbe grasped the essence of positive psychology nearly a half-century before it became an official domain within the American Psychological Association.
Shmotkin shares many examples of people suffering from loneliness, anxiety, shame, and more. They often poured their hearts out in letters to the Rebbe. He replied kindly, sharing his deep insights. He had a laser-sharp understanding of the problem and practical advice on how to overcome their mental quandaries.
The Rebbe was ahead of his time. And in Letters for Life, we see that the advice he shared was timeless.