Igrot Kodesh · Letter 526 — General

By the grace of Hashem,

26 Elul* 5709,

To the distinguished Chassid*, who fears Hashem and dedicates himself to communal needs, Rav I.[1],

I greet and bless you,

On the occasion of the new year, I would like to wish you and all of yours a good and sweet year, in all areas.

You are no doubt aware of the explanation of the Baal Shem Tov*, according to which everything one sees and hears imparts a lesson for life. You will consult the memoirs[2], at page 168. What particular lesson can be learned from this Rosh Hashanah*?

Rosh Hashanah 5710[3] is a Shabbat*.

Rosh Hashanah has two meanings:

A) It is the beginning of the year.

B) It is also the head of the year, according to the Likkutei Torah* Tavo*: 'Rosh Hashanah is the head and not the beginning of the year, for just as the head is the intellectual part of the body, the year also possesses a head which is, in this case, Rosh Hashanah.'

Just as the head directs the body, the good resolutions of Rosh Hashanah, connected to the practice of Torah* and Mitzvot* in daily conduct, must be applied throughout the entire year.

Here are two teachings conveyed by Shabbat:

A) It emphasizes that Hashem is the Master of the entire world, that everything depends solely on Him.

B) It commands one not to perform labor, to dedicate oneself to Torah and Mitzvot.

A Shabbat Rosh Hashanah must therefore emphasize even more clearly that a good decision, affecting one's conduct for the entire coming year, must be taken with one's whole heart:

A) One must not forget that in every place and at every moment, whatever action one performs, Hashem remains the sole Master.

B) One must always remember that our objective is to connect the weekdays to the spirit of Shabbat. This is why we say[4] 'today is the first, or the second day after Shabbat' and not of the week.

Thus, every thing, however material it may appear to our eyes, must be transformed into a Mitzvah*, into spirituality, as it is said: 'In all your ways, know Him' and attach yourself to Him.

When one makes a truly sincere decision, one receives Hashem's help and succeeds in putting it into practice throughout the entire year.

It is explained in a note of the Likkutei Torah[6]: 'This evokes the skull, which covers the brain and evokes the revelation of the Divine Will.' In other words, the head that constitutes Rosh Hashanah is not connected to intellect and understanding. One must serve Hashem by accepting the yoke of His sovereignty.

I conclude by wishing you to be inscribed and sealed for a good year,

Rav Menachem Schneerson,

Director of the Executive Committee[7],

ב״ה ,כ״ו אלול ,תש״ט

הוו״ח אי״א נו״מ עוסק בצ״צ וכו׳ מהור״י שי׳

שלום וברכה!

לשנה החדשה הבע״ל רצוני לברכו ,הוא וכל אשר לו ,לשנה טובה

ומתוקה בכל מילי דמיטב.

מקכ1