Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8990 — Chinuch

By the grace of Hashem,

Isru Chag* (note 1: The day after the festival.) Shavuos*, time

of the giving of our Torah*, 5725,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the participants in the annual dinner of the New York committee

for the teachers' seminary and the vocational

schools for young women of Kfar* Chabad*, in our

Holy Land, may it be restored and rebuilt,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I bless you and greet you,

I learned, with pleasure, that your dinner will take place this Sunday of Parshas* Behaaloscha*, "when you kindle the lights" (note 2: See Likkutei Sichos*, volume 33, page 269.). May Hashem make this event be crowned with broad success, in all domains. In accordance with the well-known teaching of the Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, the Parshah* of the week delivers teachings for all the events that take place within it. In this case, it is fitting to note and emphasize the meaning of the words: "when you kindle the lights" (note 3: The Rebbe emphasizes the words: "when you kindle the lights," "until the flame rises by itself," and "the candle of Mitzvah* and the Torah* of light."). Rashi* explains, at this reference, that it was necessary to kindle the lights of the Menorah*, in the Beis HaMikdash*, "until the flame rises by itself." This is precisely the effect of a good education. The student, boy or girl, must be able to rise constantly through the flame of "the candle of Mitzvah* and the Torah* of light," kindled in his soul by his teachers and his educators.

And, the revelation of all this is all the easier since the divine soul itself, possessed by every Jew, man or woman, is, by its deep nature, drawn to the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, for which it thirsts. It suffices therefore to prepare "protections," to remove the obstacles and the advances of the evil inclination. Then, the flame rises by itself.

The schools of Kfar* Chabad* that you support through your self-sacrificing action satisfy such objectives and you are associated with them to a large degree, with great merit. Nevertheless, as with everything that participates in goodness and holiness, an addition is always possible and one must therefore hope that you will introduce it, in all your activities on behalf of these holy institutions, which were founded and are directed in the spirit of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us. May Hashem make you know success in your action, in ever-increasing proportions, and may you receive visible and tangible good, yourselves and all the members of your family, in all your needs, material and spiritual. With my blessing of success and for you to give me good news,