Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9617

By the grace of Hashem,

20 Kislev* 5729,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the Assembly of Yeshurun*, those who cherish and respect the Torah* and the Mitzvot* — may Hashem grant them long life,

I greet and bless you,

My father-in-law[1], the Rebbe*, was the executive director of the Yeshiva* Tomchei Temimim* at Lubavitch* from its founding. Subsequently, he became its president and the one who re-established it in America, twenty-nine years ago. There, with Hashem's help, it has developed and grown in an extraordinary manner. Now, the Rebbe* has transmitted[2] a saying of the Admor HaZaken*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, whose liberation we have just celebrated. The lesson derived from it applies not only to the 19th of Kislev*, but also to the annual celebration of the Lubavitch* Yeshiva*, which will take place this 29th of Tevet*:

"The material goods of Jews are spirituality. Hashem grants material goods to Jews so that they may turn them into spirituality[3]."

These few words deliver a profound and timely lesson on how a Jew must conceive of Tzedakah* in general, and of that given to Yeshivot* and schools based on sacred values in particular. The relationship of Jews — "a sacred people unto Hashem"[4] — with material goods is based on the fact that Jewish materiality[3] — that which is defined and obtained by a Jew of the Torah* — is, in fact, spirituality. Now, a Jew is profoundly bound to moral values. Hashem therefore grants him material goods in abundance, so that he may turn them into the broadest moral values.

The highest form of spirituality is the study of Torah* and the observance of Mitzvot*, making it possible to fulfill the terms of the verse[5]: "Know the Hashem of your father. Serve Him with a whole heart and an eager spirit"[3]. For one must understand[3] Hashem in order to serve Him with all one's heart[3] and with one's good will[3], as Chassidut* emphasizes and explains[6]. This is how one comes to serve Hashem through every act of daily life. The most evident form of material goods is money — the fruit of a person's effort[7] — which he realizes through all the forces at his disposal. A Jew must therefore dedicate this most evident form of materiality to the highest spiritual values, and lead the most prevalent materiality toward the highest spirituality.

Within the Yeshiva* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch*, this teaching of the Admor HaZaken* receives its most complete and concrete application. Therefore, supporting this institution — an institution of Torah* and Chassidut* — is one of the best means of putting this teaching of the Admor HaZaken* into practice.

The Lubavitch* Yeshiva* is currently preparing for its annual celebration[8]. One must therefore hope that all those who cherish the Torah*, in particular the directors and friends of the Yeshiva*, will mobilize especially in order...

Notes

[1] See the Likkutei Sichot*, vol. 10, p. 262.
[2] See the Hayom Yom* at the date of the 27th of Tevet*, and the letter no. 9609.
[3] The Rebbe underlines the words: "The material goods of Jews are spirituality. Hashem grants material goods to Jews so that they may turn them into spirituality," "Jewish," "Know the Hashem of your father. Serve Him with a whole heart and an eager spirit," "understand," "heart," and "good will."
[4] Tavo 26:19.
[5] Divrei HaYamim I, 28:9.
[6] See the Kuntres Acharon*, in the chapter introduced by: "In order to understand what the Peri Etz Chaim* says," p. 156b.
[7] See the Tanya*, chapter 37, p. 48b.
[8] See regarding this the letter no. 9636.
[9] According to the third blessing of grace after meals.