Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8338 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

eve of the holy Shabbos* Parshas Yisro*

5722, Brooklyn, New York,

To those taking part in the annual dinner of the center

of the Yeshivos* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

I hope that all those who have come to unite with the center of the Yeshivos* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, on the occasion of its annual celebration, have brought with them the spirit of this Sidra*, that of the Ten Commandments and of the giving of the Torah*, which we read this Shabbos*, on the eve of this celebration.

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The Ten Commandments (note 1: See, on this subject, letters no. 8429 and 8664) present, in appearance, fundamentally opposed Precepts. The first ones, "I am Hashem your Elokim*," "you shall have no other deities" express and highlight the most profound dimension of the unity of Hashem. Conversely, the following ones, "you shall not kill," "you shall not steal," state self-evident truths, including for human rationality.

But, in reality, when morality is based on self-evidence and on the understanding of men, when the divine origin thereof is removed, human logic, conditioned by self-esteem, can be distorted, to the point that the transgression itself is presented as a Mitzvah*. Interpreting the Precepts: "you shall not kill" and: "you shall not steal" according to their own interests, many nations and various people have legitimized the most detestable objectives, have permitted themselves every means to achieve them. We have been the witnesses of all of this, in particular during these recent years (note 2: During the Shoah*).

If one removes the Injunctions: "I am Hashem your Elokim*" and: "you shall have no other deities," or even if one separates them from the Precepts: "you shall not kill" and: "you shall not steal," one then finds oneself unable to prevent men from killing and stealing, in the most brutal manner and, all the more so, in a more "refined" way, crime being compared to public humiliation and theft, to deception. The Ten Commandments emphasize that the most fundamental principles of morality and ethics, must be based on divine intervention, "I am Hashem your Elokim*" and "you shall have no other deities." It is only in this manner that they can be maintained. And, concrete practice has amply proven this.

What has just been said is also the ultimate purpose and the reason for being of a good education, according to sacred values, which must implant, in our children, the "path of life," which is based on the "Torah* of life." Daily life must be solidly anchored on the Precepts of the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, bringing to existence its proper content and constituting the source of life, which nourish each one and all at once.

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The founders of the center of the Yeshivos* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, our masters and leaders and, in particular, my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit will protect us, right here, in America, created these institutions so that they materialize, in every place and at all times, this principle which must be profoundly understood and intensely felt, according to the illumination and the explanation of Chassidus*. This explains the particularities and the specificities of the Lubavitch Yeshivos* and their students.

Consequently, there is a special merit in taking part personally in the work of the Lubavitch Yeshivos* by coming to their aid, not only by keeping their doors open and allowing them to maintain the position they have occupied until now, but also by enabling their development and their growth, in conformity with the serious need and the necessity of the moment. May Hashem grant success, in all their needs, material and spiritual, to all the friends and those who support the center of the Yeshivos* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch, with the members of their families, who will have long days and good years. With my respects and my blessing,

Menachem Schneerson,