Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9568

By the grace of Hashem,

Days of Selichot* 5728,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the sons and daughters of Israel,
wherever they may be,
may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet and bless you,

One of the essential aspects of Rosh Hashana*[1], as has been emphasized many times, is the moment of the coronation*[2] of Hashem[3], "King of Israel"[4] and "King of the world," which is connected to our profound prayer[5] and fervent request[6]: "Reign over the entire world!"[2]

Such a request presupposes that one be totally devoted to Hashem and accept the yoke of His sovereignty with all one's heart and all one's soul — particularly during the recitation of Shema Yisrael*[9]. Yet a fundamental distinction[10] must be made. On every other day, submission is merely the introduction, the deep foundation of the entire day's conduct. Thus everything that will be accomplished throughout the day is based upon this feeling. On Rosh Hashana, however, submission is properly speaking the message[2] and content of the day. It is fully revealed[2] on this day and permeates the very existence[2] of a person, so that he submits himself totally to the Divine.

For the acceptance of the Divine yoke to be total and complete, one must make it a rule of conduct — not only on Rosh Hashana, but also on all other days. However, in our generation and in certain countries, conditions have been created that are utterly opposed[11] to this mode of life, in which it is very difficult to feel and experience any kind of submission. In such cases, it is even more difficult to make submission one's rule of conduct.

Despite all this, we have an established principle[14] that Hashem does not demand of people what is beyond their strength. In this case, the acceptance of the yoke of His sovereignty is the profound content of Rosh Hashana and the foundation of actions throughout the year. This is so at all[2] times and in all[2] places. It is therefore certain that in our era as well, and in such countries, it is both possible and indeed necessary to achieve the most perfect submission.

Moreover[11], in certain countries where people live under physical and spiritual oppression — even there, in countries where there is hardly any possibility[12] of living as Jews, in such countries where even the most basic Jewish identity is forcibly suppressed, including everything related to the acceptance of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven — even there the inner world of the Jew, his soul, which is "a part of Hashem above"[13], cannot be conquered. This is even more true for us who, thank Hashem, live in countries of freedom and have every possibility to live as Jews.

For the acceptance of the yoke of Hashem to be complete, one must also fulfill the verse[2]: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" — radically[2] and definitively[2], without any concession or compromise. For the love of a fellow Jew stems from the love of Hashem, and both are also loved, pleasant, close and friendly[2] in relation to Hashem, the King of Israel and the entire world.

With blessings for a good and sweet year, inscribed and sealed for good,

M. Schneerson

Notes

[1] See the Likkutei Sichot*, vol. 9, p. 450.
[2] The Rabbi emphasizes the words: "coronation," "reign over the entire world!", "the acceptance of the yoke of the Kingship of Hashem, blessed be He," "message," "reveals," "the very existence," "loved, pleasant, close and friendly," "all," "all," "radically," "definitively," and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
[3] The Rabbi notes at the bottom of the page: "This is why it is said in all the Rosh Hashana prayers: 'Reign over the entire world,' whereas the verses of remembrance and those of the Shofar* are not mentioned in all the prayers. Similarly, the conclusion of the blessing of this day, including in the Kiddush*, is: 'King of all the earth.' The commentary of Rashi* and the Machzor Vitry* explain that one says 'Holy King' even in the Maariv* prayer, because the Holy One blessed be He said: 'Proclaim My reign over you, on Rosh Hashana.' Indeed it is specified: 'I am Hashem your Hashem,' and the following verse continues: 'And in the seventh month...' For this reason, the sounding of the Shofar*, which is the Mitzvah* of the day, enables one to 'proclaim the reign of the Creator,' in the words of Rabbi Saadya Gaon*, cited by the Abudarham*. See also the Siddur* of the Ari Zal* and the Pri Etz Chaim* regarding Rosh Hashana." The Rabbi emphasizes here the words: "all (the prayers)" and "the Mitzvah of the day."
[4] The Rabbi notes at the bottom of the page: "It is said: 'Proclaim My reign over you.' It is therefore through the Jews and their prayer: 'Reign over the entire world,' that Hashem also becomes 'King of the world,' as the Likkutei Torah* explains in Parshat Devarim, pages 41d and 56c." The Rabbi emphasizes here the words: "over you."
[5] The Rabbi notes at the bottom of the page: "See tractate Rosh Hashana 16a, which says: 'Recite before Me verses of kingship, so that I may reign over you,' as the Likkutei Torah* explains, Parshat Devarim, p. 56c."
[6] The Rabbi notes at the bottom of the page: "As various texts explain, regarding the 'Song of Ascents, from the depths' and the verse 'Seek My Face,' which is connected both to Rosh Hashana, to the period that precedes it, and to the period that follows it."
[7] The Rabbi notes at the bottom of the page: "This enables one to understand various laws applying to a king, as the Rambam* states, Laws of Kings, chapter 3, paragraph 8 and chapter 4. He also specifies, in chapter 3, paragraph 6, that 'his heart is the heart of the entire community of Israel.' See the Zohar*, vol. 3, p. 221b, and Iggeret HaKodesh*, chapter 31, as well as the responsa Chakham Tzvi*, chapter 74. Nevertheless, the Piskei Dinim of the Tzemach Tzedek*, section Yoreh Deah, at the end of chapter 40, rules according to the opposite view. The Darkei Teshuvah*, the Nitzutzei Zohar* and Rashi's commentary on the verse Chukat 21:21 cite the Midrash Tanchuma*, which says: 'The leader is everything.'"

הביאור של אדמו״ר הזקן :לקוטי תורה פרשת ראה לב ,ב .וראה גם אגרות קודש שם

עמוד רטז ,ובנסמן בהערות שם.

08ו

אחד רשאי לצאת ולקבל פני המלך ,והמלך מקבל כל אחד בשמחה ובפנים

מחייכות.

ויהי רצון שאבינו מלכנו ימלא את הבקשות והתפלות של כל אחד

מאתנו בתוך כלל ישראל לטובה ולברכה.

בברכת כתיבה וחתימה טובה לשנה טובה ומתוקה בגשמיות