Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8982 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem, eve of the holy

Shabbos* that blesses the month of Sivan* 5725,

Brooklyn, New York,

To all the participants at the annual dinner of the Yeshivah* Achei Temimim*

Lubavitch of Newark, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

Your annual dinner will take place, this year, in the week of Shavuos*, the time of the giving of our Torah* (note 1: The Rebbe* underlines the words: "time of the giving of our Torah*," "Exodus from Egypt," "profound," "external," and "two Adars*.") and the final outcome of the Exodus from Egypt (note 1). These festivals, Pesach* and Shavuos*, recall historical events, directly linked, that were experienced by our people. Their profound and immutable teaching enables every Jew to relive them and to absorb them (note 2: See, on this subject, letter no. 8582.), in his daily existence, in every place and at every moment. The idea is the following. The Exodus from Egypt, liberation from slavery, both from the profound (note 1) servitude to human nature and from the external (note 1) subjugation to one's environment, can be obtained only through the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, which illuminate the existence of the individual and the community, on a daily basis.

To this is added another point, this year, since it has two (note 3: See, on this subject, letter no. 8965.) Adars* (note 1). The purpose of such a year is to ensure that the festivals will indeed be celebrated in their season, Pesach*, first of all and, consequently, Shavuos* as well, the fiftieth day of the counting (note 4: Of the Omer*.), then all the other festivals, in the same way. Nevertheless, the holy Torah* contains an infinity of explanations and teachings, for it has no end, just as the One Who gives it is Infinite, blessed be He. It is therefore the same for a year that has two Adars*. One of the lessons it delivers is the following. A Jew must be master of his time and regulate it in accordance with the Torah*. The activities of the world themselves, planting and harvesting, since Pesach* is the time of harvesting the barley and Shavuos*, that of the wheat harvest, must be linked to the Exodus from Egypt, so as not to be the slave of the world and of nature, but on the contrary to be its master, through the strength of the Torah* and the Mitzvos* that Hashem gave to the Jews. Moreover, even if one has known lack in the past, it remains possible, not only to complete it, but also to build up a reserve for the future, as this year underscores, thanks to the month of Adar* that is added to it.

May Hashem grant that this annual dinner provide the concrete expression of all that has just been said to each man and each woman among the participants, together with the members of their families. In this way, they will strengthen the foundations of the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, in their homes and in their surroundings, in particular by strengthening and developing the Yeshivah* Achei Temimim* of your city. I extend my greetings to the dear guests and to the participants. With my blessing of success, as well as to give good tidings,