Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1453 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Adar 5712,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the eleventh annual gathering of the committee

for the protection and development of

proper chinuch*, under the auspices of the Merkaz

LeInyanei Chinuch,

may its members have long life,

I greet and bless you,

Your eleventh annual gathering will take place on Sunday, erev 13 Adar and two days before Purim. I send, on this occasion, a warm brachah* to all the participants, to the counselors, the educators, the members and the friends of the committee.

Since its founding by my father-in-law, the Rebbe, this committee has fulfilled its educational mission. Now, all that is alive grows, and I have been pleased to note that your accomplishments multiply from year to year, both in the number of counselors and talmidim* who benefit from your action and in the quality and the results of that action.

I have good hope that you will progress and ascend, from one stage to another, in the realm of kedushah*, in accordance with the desire and wish of your founder and according to the needs of the present period.

Your gathering takes place on the eve of the Yom Tov of Purim, and all is the effect of divine Hashgachah*. One must see in this a great teaching.

Our Sages relate that, when the decree of extermination was issued, Mordechai went through the streets and gathered twenty-two thousand children who devoted themselves to the study of Torah[1]. He taught it to them, and together they poured out their hearts in tefillah and supplication before their Father in Heaven. He implanted in their hearts a deep feeling of mesirus nefesh*, so that they all said in unison: "We shall be with you, in death as in life."

Thus the decree was annulled, death was transformed into life, and pain into simchah*, materially and spiritually together.

Each man and each woman must reflect upon the fact that Mordechai was one of the dignitaries of the Sanhedrin, the foremost of all the tzaddikim, comparable to Moshe in his generation. Despite this, he went personally to teach Torah, yiras Shamayim*, and mesirus nefesh to little children, to those who devoted themselves to study.

Each one of us must constantly keep this idea present in mind. None should think that his situation entitles him not to occupy himself with the chinuch of children, telling himself that he cannot abandon his important and lofty occupations.

One must know that it is essential to devote, at least for a part of one's time and koach*, to consolidating the chinuch of the young generation, in order to implant in their hearts yiras Shamayim and mesirus nefesh for all that is holy — which is so for us, who belong to "a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation,"[2] since the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai.

It is solely in this way that we can ensure the faithfulness of this young generation to Hashem and His Torah. Then the perpetuation of our people will be assured. This sacred and faithful mission is of capital importance. It will enable the disappearance of all decrees and accusations, so that "the people of Israel dwell in security and alone."[3]

I send you my brachah of hatzlachah* in your action. You will considerably multiply the number of counselors, of educators, and especially that of the talmidim who benefit from your influence. May Hashem reveal for you His attributes of kindness in the greatest abundance. You will be greatly liberated, considerably blessed, and receive manifold praises.

M. Schneerson,

1453*

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Adar 5712,

Brooklyn,

To all participants in the educational endeavor in general,

and to those who teach the youngest in particular,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet and bless you,

On the occasion of the days of Purim that approach, I wish to draw your attention to one of the events of this Yom Tov, which can deliver a lesson for your avodas Hashem* and ours[4].

Our Sages relate that, when the decree of extermination was issued[5], Mordechai went through the streets and gathered twenty-two thousand children who devoted themselves to the study of Torah. He taught it to them, and together they poured out their hearts in tefillah and supplication before their Father in Heaven. He implanted in their hearts a deep feeling of mesirus nefesh, so that they all said in unison: "We shall be with you, in death as in life."

Thus the decree was annulled, death was transformed into life, and pain into simchah, materially and spiritually together.

Each man and each woman must reflect upon the fact that Mordechai was one of the dignitaries of the Sanhedrin, the foremost of all the tzaddikim, comparable to Moshe in his generation. Despite this, he went personally to teach Torah, yiras Shamayim, and mesirus nefesh to little children, to those who devoted themselves to study.

Each one of us must constantly keep this idea present in mind. None should think that his situation entitles him not to occupy himself with the chinuch of children, telling himself that he cannot abandon his important and lofty occupations.

One must know that it is essential to devote at least a part of one's time and koach to consolidating the chinuch of the young generation, in order to implant in their hearts yiras Shamayim and mesirus nefesh for all that is holy — which is so for us, who belong to "a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation," since the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai.

It is solely in this way that we can ensure the faithfulness of this young generation to Hashem and His Torah. Then the perpetuation of our people will be a certainty. This sacred and devoted mission is of capital importance. It will enable the disappearance of all decrees and accusations, so that "the people of Israel dwell in security and alone."

I have good hope that you will ascend from one stage to another in the realm of kedushah, in accordance with the needs of the period.

I send you my brachah of hatzlachah in your action. You will considerably multiply the number of talmidim who benefit from your influence. May Hashem reveal for you His attributes of kindness in the greatest abundance. You will be greatly liberated, considerably blessed, and receive manifold praises.

M. Schneerson,

Notes

(4) See the previous letter.

(5) Of Haman.

א'תנג*

ב"ה, ז' אדר, ה'תשי"ב
ברוקלין.
לכל המשתתפים בעבודת חינך הכשר בכלל

ולהמתעסקים בחינוך קטני בני ובנות ישראל

בפרט,

ה' עליהם יחיו

שלום וברכה!

בקשר עם ימי הפורים הממשמשים ובאים, הנני בזה לעורר את תשומת לבבכם לאחד ממאורעות פורים, אשר יש ללמ[ו]ד ממנו הוראה בעבודתכם ועבודתנו.

מספרים חז"ל, כי בשעה שיצאה הגזירה להשמיד וכו' ר"ל, יצא מרדכי ברחובות עיר וכינס כ"ב אלף תינוקות של בית רבן ללמדם תורה ויחד אתם לשפוך לב לפני אביהם שבשמים בתפלה ותחנונים, ומסירות נפש גדולה השריש בלבותם, עד שקראו פה אחדף בין במות בין בחיים עמך אנו, ועל ידי זה נקרע גזר הדין ונהפוך הוא ממות לחיים ומיגון לשמחה - בחיי הגוף וחיי הנפש גם יחד.

על כל אחד ואחת להתבונן, אשר מרדכי הצדיק שהי' מרשי הסנהדרין, ראש לכל הצדיקים, כמשה בדורו, הנה אף על פי כן, יצא בכבודו ובעצמו ללמד תורה ביראת שמים ומסירות נפש לילדים קטנים תינוקות של בית רבן.

על כל אחד ואחת מאתנו לזכור תמיד: אל ידמה אדם בנפשו כי מעמדו ומצבו פוטר אותו מלטפל בחינוך הקטנים, וכיצד יבטל ממעשיו ועסקיו הרבים, עליו להכיר כי חשוב מכל הוא לקבוע, על כל פנים, חלק מזמנו, ולהקדיש על כל פנים חלק מכוחותיו לכיבוש החינוך של הדוק הצעיר, כדי לנטוע בלבם יראת שמים ומסירות נפש לכל הקדוש - הקדוש לנו מאז היינו לממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש - במעמד הר סיני.

ואז רק אז בטוחים נהי' כי הדור הצעיר יהי' נאמן לה' ולתורתו, ובדרך ממילא גם קיום עמנו יהי' בטח, וגדול כח עבודה קדושה ומסורה זו, לבטל כל הקטרוגים והגזירות, ועם ישראל ישכון בטח בדד.

ואני תקוה כי תלכו מחיל אל חיל להיות מעלין בקודש בעלי' אחר עלי', מתאים לדרישת השעה.

בברכת הצלחה בעבודתכם ובעיקר - להרבות מספר בני ובנות ישראל המושפעים על ידכם כמה פעמים ככה. ויהי רצון שיתקיימו בכם מדותיו הטובות של הקב"ה בהשפע בפירוי ורבוי, הפדות ברבוי הברכה ברבוי השבח ברבוי,

מ. שניאורסאהן
א'תנג*
נדפסה בבטאון חב"ד חוב' טז ע' יח. ראה אגרת שלפנ"ז.