Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7681 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

Eve of the holy Shabbos*, Parshas* Shelach*,

5721, Brooklyn, New York,

To all the directors and friends of the Beth Rivkah* schools, in general, to the participants of the nineteenth annual banquet of the Beth Rivkah* schools, in particular, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

The annual banquet takes place this year in the week that falls between the Shabbos* of Parshas* Shelach* and the Shabbos* of Parshas* Korach*, by an effect of Divine Providence*. There is therefore necessarily a connection with the content of these two Sidros*. They relate two tumultuous and tragic events that our ancestors experienced in the desert, when they left Egypt in order to travel to Eretz Yisrael*. There was the revolt of the spies, whom Moshe our master had sent to reconnoiter Eretz Yisrael* and to give a report of it, and then there was the uprising of Korach* and his assembly against Moshe our master. What was the attitude adopted by the women during these critical and decisive periods for the people of Israel?

Our Sages*, of holy memory, relate that the women, in general, did not follow the calls that were then made by men in revolt. On the contrary, they displayed great trust in Hashem, remained faithful to Moshe our master, to the Torah*, and to the love of the Holy Land. It is for this reason that they merited to constitute a new generation, children of Israel imbued with trust and love for Hashem, for the Torah*, and for the Mitzvos*, who entered the Holy Land and inherited it.

The teaching that derives from this is quite clear. One observes here what a Jewish woman, a mother, can accomplish when she educates her children, even if her husband does not help her, and, of course, even more clearly with his help. One sees, therefore, the scope of the positive influence that a woman can have on the conduct of her home. It is for this reason that she is crowned with the title conferred by the following verse: "It is the wisdom of women that builds their home."

If, at all times, the Jewish woman has had a primordial role within the Jewish home and, more broadly, in Jewish life, how much more is this the case in our era and in our situation. It is for this reason that my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, devoted so many efforts to strengthening and developing the Beth Rivkah* schools, where the dear Jewish girls receive an education based on sacred values, in order to be true builders of Jewish homes and to ensure the continuity of the people of Israel. Great is the merit of the one who takes part in this effort of strengthening and developing the Beth Rivkah* schools. Great, too, is his or her reward, which will enable the person to receive blessing in all his or her needs, both materially and spiritually. With my respects and my blessing to give good tidings,