Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8424 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

Rosh Chodesh* Sivan* 5722,

Brooklyn, New York,

To all the participants of the annual dinner

of the educational institution Oholei Torah*,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

I was happy to learn of your annual celebration. May Hashem cause it to know great success, both materially and spiritually. This takes place a few days after Shavuos*, time of the giving of our Torah*. I therefore have good hope that all the participants and the directors will bring with them, to this dinner, the trace and the spirit of the festival of the receiving of the Torah*, in particular what connects it to education based on sacred values. Indeed, as our Sages, whose memory is a blessing, say, the holy Torah* could not be given before the children of Israel made the children their guarantors, attesting thereby that this Torah* would be guarded and respected. They therefore proclaimed (note 1: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "Midrash Shir HaShirim Rabbah*, regarding the verse: 'Draw me, after You we will run.' Midrash Tehillim*, regarding the verse: 'From the mouth of infants and nursing children,' with a somewhat different formulation") that: "our children will be our guarantors" (note 2: The Rebbe* underlines the words: 'our children will be our guarantors,' 'full,' 'sure,' and 'Oholei Torah').

When the children of Israel presented this guarantee and Hashem accepted it, it was clear that this was the right one and that it should be concretely so. In other words, the Jews have the full (note 2) and sure (note 2) capacity to put into practice, in their existence, the fact that: "our children will be our guarantors," thanks to a Torah* education, based on sacred values. It suffices to desire it sincerely.

Consequently, I hope that all the directors, donors and friends of the educational institution Oholei Torah* (note 2), in the spirit of the festival of the receiving of the Torah*, will seize the opportunity offered to them by this annual celebration in order to provide the fitting aid, not only to strengthen this institution, but also to enlarge it. By this merit, Hashem will broaden the help He grants to each man and each woman, with the members of their family, in all needs, both material and spiritual, in conformity with the promise stated by the Torah*: "It is a tree of life for those who strengthen themselves in it and those who support it are happy" (note 3: The Rebbe* notes at the bottom of the page: "See also the Zohar*, volume 3, page 53b and the teaching of the Admur HaZaken*, on this subject, cited and commented upon in the Chassidic* discourse entitled: 'It is a tree of life,' of Simchas Torah* 5699, page 68, of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit will protect us"). With my respects, my blessing, according to the terms of our master, my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, to "receive the Torah* with joy and in a profound manner,"

Menachem Schneerson,