Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7106 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

7 Kislev* 5720,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the women's committee of New York for the benefit of the

professional school for young women and the teachers' seminary

of Kfar Chabad*, in our Holy Land, may it be

restored and rebuilt, may Hashem grant you long life,

I bless you and greet you,

I experienced a natural satisfaction upon learning of the report of your activity and that a celebration was held on the occasion of the nomination of your new officers, at the conclusion of the holy Shabbos* Parshas* Vayeitzei*. I address my wishes and my blessing to these new officers, hoping that together with the previous ones, as well as with all your members, they will strengthen and broaden the activity of the women's committee, and will experience a year of great accomplishments, especially since this year is the bicentennial of the Hilloula* of the Baal Shem Tov*. We have heard many times from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, in the name of the Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya*, that the events of the week are reflected in the Sidra* that is then read. Therefore, it is appropriate to study it in order to determine the conduct one should adopt during that week.

In Parshas* Vayeitzei*, we learn that our father Yaakov* arrived in a foreign land (note 1: In Charan), experienced difficult moments and trials. But nothing could affect him, and it was precisely there that he founded the house of Israel. All his children remained faithful to the tradition of the Patriarchs — Avraham*, Yitzchak*, and Yaakov*. And all this was possible because the Mothers of Israel (note 2: See, on this subject, letter no. 7101) — Rochel*, Leah*, Bilhah*, and Zilpah* — did everything in their power to ensure the integrity of their home and the plenitude of their people. Such is the profound content of the role assumed by a Jewish woman — that of mistress of the home, not only her own, but also of the entire house of Israel. We are presently in the month of Chanukah*. Now, the mitzvah* and the teaching of this festival is the dissemination of clarity, of "the candle that is a mitzvah* and the Torah* that is a light" — in an ever-increasing manner, each day. May Hashem therefore grant success to your action, so that it may grow and develop. Without a doubt, this will also reveal the blessings of Hashem for each of your collaborators, likewise in an ever-increasing manner. May your homes be luminous and joyous, both materially and spiritually. With my blessing of success,