Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9244

By the grace of Hashem,

Festival of liberation,
19 Kislev 5727,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the members of the Yeshurun[1] assembly,
who cherish and respect the Torah and the Mitzvot*,
may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet and bless you,

On the occasion of the dinner of the center of the Yeshivot* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, which will take place on the Sunday of Parshat Beshalach*, 4 Shevat next, I address myself to those who cherish the Torah — in general — and to the friends of the Lubavitch Yeshivot in particular, so that they may use the coming weeks to ensure that this annual celebration achieves great success in all areas, financially and morally. Each year, a Jew must remember and feel his commitment to education grounded in sacred values[2]. Nevertheless, this year is the year of Hakhel*[2], as was explained in the letter of this Rosh Hashanah*[3]. This period therefore calls upon all Jews — men and women, young and old — to strengthen the educational system to the greatest possible extent.

The coming weeks, until the annual celebration, will be illuminated by luminous days: the 19th of Kislev[4] and the 24th of Tevet[5], linked to the Admur HaZaken*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, founder of Chabad*. The celebration proper takes place during the week of 10 Shevat, the Hillula* of my father-in-law, the Rabbi, may his merit protect us, founder of the center of the Yeshivot Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch in this country. It is well known how much the members of Chabad in every generation have emphasized the study of Torah and education grounded in sacred values. It suffices to recall that the first book published by the Admur HaZaken[6] was his Laws of Torah Study[2], which cites from the very outset the halachic ruling that the education of a Jewish child begins from the moment he starts to speak.

In that same spirit, the Lubavitch Yeshivot take charge of the education of Jewish children from the youngest age until adulthood. This education is in accordance with Hakhel, of which it is said[7]: "so that they may hear and so that they may learn to fear the Lord our Hashem, that they may observe and do all the words of this Torah"[2] — an education that leads students to become, in their turn, educators, "candles to illuminate"[2][8], who enlighten their surroundings by[9]: "the candle is a Mitzvah and the Torah is a light"[2].

I wish to hope that all the friends of the Lubavitch Yeshivot, and first and foremost the leaders of these institutions, will mobilize all their strength to ensure the success of this annual celebration — so important for the existence and future development of the Lubavitch Yeshivot. And, "to whoever adds, one adds"[10] blessing and success in all needs, material and spiritual. With my respects and my blessing for considerable success in all of the above, as well as on the occasion of the festival of liberation,

M. Schneerson,

Notes

[1] Of the Jewish people.
[2] The Rabbi notes the words: "education grounded in sacred values", "Hakhel", "Laws of Torah Study", "so that they may hear and so that they may learn to fear the Lord our Hashem, that they may observe and do all the words of this Torah", "candles to illuminate" and "the candle is a Mitzvah and the Torah is a light".
[3] This refers to letter no. 9217.
[4] Date of the Admur HaZaken's liberation from Tsarist prisons.
[5] Date of the Hillula of the Admur HaZaken.
[6] Published in Shklov in 5554 (1794).
[7] Vayeilech 31:12.
[8] See Torat Menachem, Hitvaaduyot, vol. 4, p. 228.
[9] Mishlei 6:23.
[10] See tractate Taanit 31a and Rashi's commentary there.