Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2869 — Tzedakah

B"H

20 Menachem Av 5714,
Brooklyn, New York.

To the association of Chabad* women and girls, chapter of ... (this letter was addressed to several chapters around the world, between the end of Av and the beginning of Elul; see also Likkutei Sichos*, vol. 14, p. 274), may Hashem grant you long life,

Blessing and greeting,

I was satisfied to obtain a report of your activities. You are doubtless preparing for the month of Elul* and the period that follows the summer. This must condition your program for the future.

Indeed, Elul* is the month of the moral accounting for the entire year and the month of mercy. It is thanks to this that a Jew can then, on Rosh Hashanah* and, more generally, during the month of Tishrei*, be inscribed and sealed for a good year, as well as all the members of his family.

The preparations must be manifest in the two domains of human conduct, in accordance with the manner in which one ordinarily classifies their actions — that is, those toward Hashem and those toward others.

Such is precisely the meaning of the word Elul*, composed, as the books explain, of the initials of the verses: "I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me," describing the relationship with Hashem, and: "A man to his fellow and gifts to the poor" (defining the mitzvos* of Purim* that are accomplished toward others), defining the relationships between people.

When one establishes a just accounting in both domains of human action, one receives the help of the Creator of the world to make good decisions, in these days, these weeks, these months, which thus come for good and for blessing, for us and for all Israel.

With my blessing for succeeding in broadening your action, with abundance and joy, for having, of course, a greater number of members, to the fullest extent possible, in conformity with the teaching of our Sages according to which "one who saves a Jewish soul is considered as if he had preserved the entire world,"