Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4674 — Teshuvah

B"H

1 Elul 5716

Brooklyn

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem
and devotes himself to communal needs,
who faithfully fulfills his mission,
Rav Yaakov HaCohen (see note 1),

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter from the eve of the month of mercy (see note 2).

I read with pleasure that at an auspicious time, that of "the Will of all wills" (see note 3), during Minchah* on the Shabbos that blesses the month of Elul*, you explained the significance of this month to all present. Now, when ten Jews gather, the Divine Presence is revealed, particularly when words of Torah* and Chassidus* are spoken.

May Hashem grant that this encouragement (see note 4) have a concrete effect and that all those who initiated it be its first beneficiaries.

I also read with pleasure in your letter that you will serve as chazzan* during Rosh Hashanah* and Yom Kippur*, which are approaching — for us and for all of Yisroel — for good.

You surely know the instruction of my father-in-law, the Rebbe* (see note 5), whose merit protects us, according to which all those who lead the prayers on these days must, somewhat in advance, review the meaning — at least the literal meaning — of the prayers and hymns that are customarily recited and with which one is not familiar.

Hashem "hears the prayer of His people Yisroel with mercy" (see note 6). May He therefore hear the prayer of the chazzanim*, and yours in particular. May He grant to each person within all of Yisroel a good and sweet year in every domain, all the more so since this year begins with a preparation that will already have been made, for its first day is a holy Shabbos*. In such a case, as our Sages emphasize, "all your work has been done."

The month of Elul is the preparation and, in a sense, the beginning of the Ten Days of Teshuvah*. During these days, one begins to receive the King, King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, as the Likkutei Torah* explains in Parshas* Re'eh, page 33b. May all good things therefore begin from the very first day of the recitation of the Psalm "A Psalm of David: Hashem is my Light" (see note 7).

With my blessing to give good news of all this, with greetings to the members of your family and those of your synagogue,