Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9494

By the grace of Hashem,

Period of the Omer* 5728,
Brooklyn, New York,

To Mrs. Reicha Schmuckler,

I bless you and greet you,

I have duly received your letter, and may Hashem answer the wishes of your heart positively. Likewise, I will mention, to bless him, the name of your brother who is reaching the age of Bar Mitzvah*. No doubt he has made a sincere resolution to fulfill all the roles entrusted to an upright Jew*, especially since, as you write to me, you are Kohanim*. First and foremost, the entire people of Hashem is: "a nation of Kohanim* and a holy people"[1]. Moreover, the Kohanim* receive, more specifically, particular missions and additional powers.

I read with pleasure in your letter that you have taken part in meetings, Chassidic* gatherings, and studies. I have good hope that you benefit from these courses and this study, so that it leads to action[2], in accordance with the teaching of our Sages*[3]: "the act is essential."

During this Omer* period, as one prepares for the giving of the Torah*[4], a particular role falls to Jewish women, as our Torah* — Torah* of life[5] — teaching for life[6] — in all generations, tells us. Indeed, the Torah* is eternal[7] and, before giving it, Hashem, blessed be He, said to Moses*: "Thus you shall speak to the house of Jacob," and only after that: "you shall say to the children of Israel," meaning that the women and girls of Israel*, "the house of Jacob," were the first to prepare to receive the Torah*. With my blessing to give me good news, as well as to receive the Torah* and the Mitzvot* with joy and in depth,

For the Rabbi Shlita*,
the secretary,

I enclose a receipt[8] — may the merit of the Tzedakah* protect you and the members of your family.

Notes

(1) Yitro* 19, 6.
(2) See tractate Kiddushin* 40b.
(3) Tractate Avot*, ch. 1, Mishnah* 17.
(4) See also the following letter and references mentioned therein.
(5) Yitro* 19, 3. See the Mechilta* and Rashi's* commentary on this verse.
(6) See the Zohar*, vol. 3, p. 53b.
(7) According to the Tanya*, at the beginning of ch. 17.
(8) For the donation to Tzedakah* that the recipient of this letter had enclosed with her correspondence.