Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9071

By the grace of Hashem,

18 Tevet* 5726,

Brooklyn, New York,

To all the participants at the twenty-sixth annual dinner of the center of the Yeshivot* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet and bless you,

This year,[1] your dinner[2] is being held before the Hilloula* of the Admor HaZaken*,[3] author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, founder of Chabad* Lubavitch. One of the essential aspects of Chabad* Lubavitch is precisely the emphasis placed on education, which takes the form of broad and dedicated action in this domain. This tradition goes back to the Baal Shem Tov*, founder of Chassidut*, who began his educational work even before revealing himself, when he would teach young children. His self-sacrifice and love for these young children knew no bounds. His successor, the celebrated Maggid* of Mezeritch*, wished that he could feel as much love when he embraced the Sefer Torah* as the Baal Shem Tov felt when he embraced these young children.[4]

This tradition was transmitted by the disciple of the Maggid* of Mezeritch*, the Admor HaZaken*, and by all the masters of Chabad*, up to my father-in-law, the Rebbe, may his merit protect us, who implanted the Lubavitch Yeshivot* on the American continent. This year marks the hundredth Hilloula* of the Tzemach Tzedek*. It is therefore fitting to recall his conception of education, illustrated by the following account:

As is known, the Tzemach Tzedek* was a giant among the giants of the Torah*, a halachic* authority recognized worldwide, a Gaon* of Chassidut* and of Torah* scholarship. Nevertheless, with all this, when he would tear himself away from his Torah* study or from other public concerns — however important they might be — he did so in order to devote himself to the Jewish education of children, including even when this proved more difficult, when it meant wrenching himself from his own Torah* study or from other public concerns, however important. For education rooted in sacred values surpasses them all. It is therefore to be hoped that all the friends of the Lubavitch Yeshivot*

Notes

(1) [Reference to the year 5726 and its significance]
(2) [Reference to the Tomchei Temimim dinner]
(3) The Hilloula of the Admor HaZaken falls on 24 Tevet.
(4) [Reference to the Maggid's saying about the Sefer Torah]