Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7014 — Grief & Loss

By the grace of Hashem,

25 Elul* 5719,

Seventh year (note 1: That of the Shemittah*),

Brooklyn, New York,

To the sons and daughters of Israel,

wherever they may be,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you broadly and bless you,

In these days of conclusion of the past year and at the dawn of the new one, which arrives, for us and for all Israel, for good and for blessing, the moment has come for a moral accounting of this elapsed period, whose final synthesis permits the taking of appropriate resolutions for the period that begins.

For this accounting to be just, one must make an exact evaluation of one's strengths and possibilities. The broader the strengths one has had at one's disposal but that have remained unused, the greater are the disappointment and the fault of not having used them (note 2: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See also tractate Kesubos* 67a"). The decision to henceforth put into practice all the possibilities offered, to the broadest extent, will be all the stronger for it.

The time preceding Rosh Hashanah* and this holiday itself are not only the occasion granted to establish a moral accounting, in general. This period recalls and demands, furthermore, a profound evaluation of the capacities at one's disposal, as a man, the chosen among creatures, and as a Jew, to whom Hashem transmits a heavenly Torah* of life. Indeed, Rosh Hashanah* is the day of the creation of man.

* * *

When man was created, the Creator immediately showed him the strengths at his disposal and the mission entrusted to him, in the world: "Fill the earth and conquer it. Rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every animal that creeps upon the earth."

Man therefore received all the necessary strengths to conquer the earth and direct it. This is so on dry land, in the seas, and in the air. And he was enjoined that it be indeed so, for such is the accomplishment incumbent upon him. Now, in what manner is it possible to direct the world and, in this way, to achieve one's objective and fulfill one's mission? The Sages* teach us (note 3: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See Tikkunei Zohar*, Tikkun 56 and Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer*, chapter 11").

Adam*, the first man, when Hashem created him, was permeated and illuminated by his soul, by his heavenly image. It is in this way and thanks to this that he succeeded in directing all of creation. All the creatures then assembled to crown him and proclaim him their creator. But Adam*, the first man, showed them their error and said to them: "Come, let us go serve Hashem, Who created us."

* * *

The direction of the world that was entrusted to man, as an objective and a mission, consists of bringing elevation to his surroundings, to the entire world, including wild beasts and domestic animals, by placing them in the service of true humanity — a humanity imbued and illuminated by the image of Hashem, by the soul that is a "particle of true supernal Divinity" (note 4: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See chapter 2 of Tanya* and the notes of the Tzemach Tzedek*, at this reference, in the Kitzurim VeHe'aros, page 72"). In this way, all beings can arrive at the consciousness that Hashem "created us."

Of course, before setting out to conquer the world, a man must first master his own person, the "earthly" aspect of his personality, his appearance of a "wild beast." For this, he must put into practice the teachings of the Torah*, Torah* of life, guide of daily existence. In this manner, what is material and coarse will be imbued with the clarity of: "Hashem is one and His Name is one" (note 5: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Sefer Mitzvos Katan*, in the Beis Yosef*, Tur Orach Chaim*, chapter 61"), until it becomes luminous.

Thus, Hashem created one single man and entrusted him with this mission and this role. There is indeed a profound but clear lesson here: one man, every man, has the power (note 6: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See tractate Sanhedrin*, chapter 4, Mishnah* 5, and tractate Kiddushin* 40b") to dominate the world.

If someone does not fulfill the mission entrusted to him, if he does not use the divine strengths granted to him, he does not merely suffer a terrible loss and an immense personal failure. He calls into question the fate of all humanity.

* * *

In these days of moral accounting, each one of us, if he tells himself that by conforming to the teachings of the Creator, expressed in His Torah*, he will receive the possibility of conquering the worlds, will then ask himself the following question: to what extent has one acted in this direction during the year that has just elapsed? Now, such is indeed the divine mission, the purpose of life. If it turns out that certain points have not yet been accomplished, one will therefore take the necessary resolutions for the new year.

Hashem searches the hearts and He will see the firmness of the good resolutions that will be taken in this matter. Because of this, He will grant His blessing, so that one can put them into practice in the best way, with joy and enthusiasm, with material and spiritual abundance. With my blessing that you be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year,

Menachem Schneerson,