Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1216 — Chinuch

B'ezras Hashem,

Third day of Selichos* 5711,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the sons and daughters of Israel, wherever they may be,

upon whom Hashem should bestow long life,

I greet you broadly and bless you abundantly,

In these days that make the transition between the year that has just passed and the one that shall begin, for us and for all of Israel, for good and for blessing — in these days of moral elevation and of cheshbon hanefesh*,

each one takes the decision that next year shall be better, more elevated, in daily existence, in concrete realizations, for himself and toward his fellow.

If this is the case every year, how much more is it the case for this one, since 5712 will be the year of the Shemittah*.

Briefly, the Shemittah is comparable to the holy Shabbos, among the seven days of the week. Likewise, the Shemittah is a year consecrated to Hashem, every seven years. And, the Torah then gives a different program, "the land shall rest, a Shabbos for Hashem."

Thus it is in the material and physical dimension.

More deeply, in the moral dimension, this year invites, as it is said: "the land shall rest," to cut oneself off from materiality and coarseness, to elevate oneself toward spirituality. It is a "Shabbos for Hashem," enabling one to depart from false ideals and from a so-called spirituality which, in the end, leads to even lower and coarser comportments.

One can therefore elevate oneself toward refinement and moral values, thanks to Torah and mitzvos*, given by Hashem. Henceforth, these characteristics may be marked in every detail of existence, including food, drink, business, and all the objects connected to the material and physical life of every day. For all must be filled with the radiance of Divinity.

By permeating ourselves with the idea of Shabbos and Shemittah in our everyday existence, by deciding to maintain ourselves with self-sacrifice on the path of Torah and mitzvos, which has enabled our perpetuation for more than three millennia, we shall merit, undoubtedly, to be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year, of a visible and tangible good.

Wishing you and wishing myself to be inscribed and sealed for a good year,

Menachem Mendel ben Chana Schneerson,