Igrot Kodesh · Letter 6855 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

Erev* Shabbos* Parshas* Emor* 5719,

Brooklyn, New York,

To our brothers, the children of Yisrael*,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

We find ourselves in the period of the Omer*. In their deep dimension, these days prepare for the Giving of the Torah*, and our Sages* explain that this period has its origin in the Exodus from Mitzrayim*, when the children of Yisrael* experienced an immense thirst (note 1: See, on this subject, letter no. 6842) to receive the Torah*. After their physical liberation, they therefore counted the days and weeks separating them from their spiritual liberation, at Mount Sinai. They did not yet know precisely what the Torah* was, what it would establish for the individual and for the community. But it sufficed for them to know that its revelation was the purpose of their journey. In the depths of their hearts, they were already animated by a deep love for Hashem, for the Torah*, and for their fellow. Our ancestors Avraham*, Yitzchak*, and Yaakov* implanted these sentiments in all Jewish hearts. And in the daily life of the children of Yisrael*, this immense thirst enabled them, in a relatively short time, to become "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Three thousand two hundred and seventy-one years have elapsed since the Exodus from Mitzrayim* (note 2: Which took place in the year 2448), and during the greater part of this period, Jews have passed from one exile to another. They have been able to verify, individually and as a community, the extent to which the Torah* is indeed "a Torah* of life" in the most literal sense. One can deduce from this how great our thirst for Torah* must be.

Nevertheless, in various situations, the deep attachment of Jews to the Torah* and the mitzvos* becomes obscured. This is why it is necessary, from time to time, to awaken the Jewish heart — which, in fact, is always ready to regain this awareness.

The Parshah* of this week begins with: "Say to the Kohanim*... and you shall say to them." One must therefore say, repeat, and warn the adults concerning the children, command the greater to guide the smaller. All Jews, belonging to a "kingdom of priests," are compared to Kohanim*, who by nature are zealous and set aside all indolence. Nevertheless, they must be encouraged frequently — not only to fulfill the mission personally entrusted to them, but also to engage others to do the same.

Some distinguish themselves by their aptitudes, their diligence, and their qualities as teachers. Others possess financial means. Each must therefore act according to the possibilities that Divine Providence* has granted him. Obviously, one who can intervene in all these domains at once must act accordingly. It falls upon him, much more clearly and much more strongly, to fully assume his mission.

* * *

I address you, our brothers, children of Yisrael*, on behalf of the center of the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, whose financial situation is currently critical. If it had just been founded and needed your help, you would surely have responded warmly. But in this case, it has proven, with the help of Hashem, through the self-sacrifice of its students and teachers, that it has been able to endure sixty years, from one exile to another, and has clearly shown the weight of its unique value, its commitment, and its achievement for the Torah* and the mitzvos* based on sacred values.

Each man and each woman is concerned by the injunction to warn the adults concerning the children. Each man and each woman must respond, with diligence and even with self-sacrifice, to the call for help issued by the Yeshivah* Lubavitch, given the critical financial situation that is currently its own. Through this merit, the small will become great and the great will become even greater, in all domains, for "great is Hashem and none can perceive His greatness." Without a doubt, Hashem will not remain in debt. He will grant children, health, and prosperity, in material and spiritual abundance at once. With my respects and my blessing,

M. Schneerson,