Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8805 — Chinuch

By the grace of Hashem,

27 Nissan* 5724,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the participants in the eleventh annual dinner of the association

of the women and young women of Chabad*, in Cleveland, Ohio,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I bless you and greet you,

I learned, with satisfaction, that your dinner has been set for Sunday, the first day of Rosh Chodesh* Iyar*, the 30th of Nissan* coming. May Hashem cause that your annual celebration be crowned with great success, in all domains. This takes place at the end of the month of Nissan* and one can therefore wish that on this occasion, one will highlight the content of this month of deliverance and that of the festival of Pesach* for all Jewish women and, in particular, for the women of Chabad*, especially for what concerns education based on sacred values. Indeed, the very foundation of the Seder* and of the Haggadah* of Pesach*, which introduce (note 1: The Rebbe* underlines the words: "introduce," "You shall tell your son," "children," "They recognized Him first," "concludes" and "all") the festival of Pesach*, is the Mitzvah* of the Torah* according to which: "You shall tell your son" (note 1), consisting of telling and explaining to the children (note 1) the meaning of the exodus from Egypt*, which was the preparation for the giving of the Torah*. Thus was realized: "They recognized Him first" (note 1) and, indeed, these children were the first to recognize Hashem during the crossing of the Red Sea (note 2: According to tractate Sotah* 11b), which concludes (note 1) the festival of Pesach*.

The Seder* and the Haggadah* of Pesach* therefore teach us that one must not despair, not even of an impious son, who should also be invited to the Seder*. Simultaneously, one must not count solely on the wise son for him to grow up and become a pious Jew. It is necessary to devote oneself to all (note 1) Jewish children, without exception. Such is precisely the objective of the women of Chabad*, in every place. They support the institutions and the accomplishments that strive to elevate the children of Yisrael* to the rank of wise sons. To this is added the essential mission of the women and young women of Chabad*, that of introducing the broadest measure of light and holiness, "the candle (which) is a Mitzvah* and the Torah* (which) is a light" into their home and into their surroundings. With my blessing of success and to give me good news,