Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2827 — Chinuch

B"H

24 Tammuz 5714,
Brooklyn.

Greetings and blessing,

I received your letter of 20 Tammuz, with what was enclosed in it. And, you have no fear to have, for all the letters that are addressed to me are opened by myself. Quite obviously, if my correspondent wishes that no one other than I see his mail, his will is respected, and it has indeed been so for what concerns your letter. You can therefore be reassured and set at ease.

We had evoked, when you were here, the donation that you could make to the Yeshivos. You write to me that you do not yet know when you will be able to fulfill it. You await the reply that will be made to your candidacy.

I hope that my letter to your wife reached its destination, in its time. You bring in your candidacy, but it seems to me that I pointed out to you, during our discussion, that there should be no link between the one and the other. At most, this link should be limited to the amount that you will receive thanks to this candidacy, but not beyond that. You should give the rest as soon as possible.

As the Alter Rebbe emphasizes, in chapter 21 of Iggeres HaKodesh, the Akeidah of Yitzchak is always cited as the foundation of the conviction that Hashem satisfies all the needs of the Jews. We read the account of it, every morning, before the prayer. Before and after this reading, we pronounce a prayer, asking Hashem to accord us His kindness and His mercy, by the merit of this sacrifice.

The Akeidah of Yitzchak is also a blessing and a request of the Mussaf prayer of Rosh Hashanah. In addition, during this festival, one reads also, in the Torah, the account of the Akeidah.

The Alter Rebbe explains, in Iggeres HaKodesh, that what was new, in the present case, was not the sacrifice itself, which one cannot define, properly speaking, as a test, in view of the greatness of our father Avraham. What was new is, in fact, the eagerness, of which Avraham gave proof. In this way, he wished to joyfully put into practice the Will of Hashem.

Now, the merit of this eagerness guards and protects the Jews of all the generations, according to the expression of the Alter Rebbe, "for us and our children, for eternity." And, the Alter Rebbe adds: "This concerns, in particular, tzedakah*, which it is fitting to give as soon as possible, in all the measure of the possible."

I address myself to someone of Chabad and there is therefore no need to cite proofs to confirm the affirmation of the Alter Rebbe. I am certain that, after having consulted Iggeres HaKodesh, you will accomplish, as soon as possible, what we spoke of, conformably to the expression of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and Posek of the hidden part of Torah, author of the Shulchan Aruch and Posek of the revealed part of Torah, "in all the measure of the possible."

May Hashem come to your aid, and He will effectively help you, so that you do all that with joy, with the desire to put into practice the Will of the Creator and to procure Him satisfaction. And, this merit will protect you also in this world, as the Alter Rebbe specifies, at the same reference. It will also protect your wife and all yours, for long days and good years,

With my blessing,