Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7098 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

1 Kislev* 5720,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the members of the assembly of Yeshurun*,

cherishing and observing the Torah* and the mitzvos*,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

This year is the bicentennial of the Hilloula* of the Baal Shem Tov*, founder of general Chassidus*. As is known, the Baal Shem Tov* began his sacred work as an educator of small children. He was the assistant of a teacher, led the little ones to school by carrying them in his arms, taught them the alphabet, the blessings, the Shema Yisrael*, with a love and self-sacrifice that knew no limit. It is well known that all the masters of Chabad*, from the Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya* and founder of Chabad* Chassidus* on the basis of the principles established by his "grandfather" (note 1: This is how the Alter Rebbe referred to the Baal Shem Tov. See, on this subject, the Likkutei Sichos, volume 4, page 1136, particularly note 1, and letter no. 7294), until the founder of the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* in Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab*, and his son, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, who transferred this Yeshivah* to America, disseminated at the risk of their lives a Torah* filled with the fear of Hashem and its profound dimension, so that in our days, the various Yeshivos* Tomchei Temimim* and, above all, their center, which is in Brooklyn, are the source of the greatest forces in the domain of good education based on sacred values. Indeed, each student is imbued with love of Hashem, love of the Torah*, and love of one's fellow, thus being able to disseminate a luminous and enthusiastic influence in his surroundings.

On this day of Rosh Chodesh* Kislev*, 1 Kislev*, the luminous virtue of this month — thanks to the festival of the liberation of the Alter Rebbe* (note 2: From the Czarist prisons, on 19 Kislev) and the mitzvah* of the Chanukah* candles, which are kindled in ascending order — enables me to address all the friends of the Yeshivos* Lubavitch or, more generally, those who cherish the Torah* and the mitzvos*, to launch an appeal from the depth of my heart, so that they support the annual celebration of the center of the Yeshivos* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, which awaits from them significant help — help that will sustain them and make their existence more secure. The merit of this mitzvah*, which is also that of the many, together with the merit of the propitious days that are approaching, will protect each man and woman, without a doubt, with the members of their family, in order to obtain the blessings of Hashem in an ever-increasing manner, both materially and spiritually. With my respects and my blessing,

Menachem Schneerson,