Igrot Kodesh · Letter 597 — Sefirat HaOmer — Preciousness of Time

By the grace of Hashem,

10 Iyar 5710,

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, the Rav A. H.

I greet you and bless you.

You will find enclosed a booklet that has just appeared. You will surely make it available to as many people as possible — and the merit of all depends on it.

We are presently in the middle of the period of the Omer*. It is possible to derive from every thing a teaching for the service of Hashem. This is all the more important when, as in the present case, the matter itself is a Mitzvah*.

The counting of the Omer underscores, among other things, how precious time is. That is why one must guard it and count it. And if, on a given day, one does not do so, it is not only that one day that is lost, but also the days and weeks that follow it. Conversely, when one counts a day, one can still bless the days and weeks to come.

And we bless "our G-d (Elokeinu*)," Who is our strength and our vitality, "King of the universe (Melech HaOlam*)," Who directs it. He can therefore — and indeed will — give all good to those whom He calls "My firstborn son, Israel."

This is true for everyone, but it concerns even more clearly those who exert influence on a great number of people, whose actions resound for many Jews. This teaching applies particularly to those who have known how to exert this influence successfully. They must know how to take advantage of every occasion, and even to create new ones, to strengthen Torah, Yiddishkeit*, the spreading of Torah and Chassidus*. My father-in-law, the Rebbe, gave the assurance that an effort is never made in vain.

I conclude by sending greetings to all those who receive your influence, wishing your wife a speedy recovery and success in your mission of spreading the light around you.

Rav Menachem Schneerson

You will find enclosed two receipts.