Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8589 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

11 Shevat* 5723,

Brooklyn, New York,

To all participants in the annual dinner for the benefit

of the Yeshivah* Achei Temimim* of Pittsburgh,

may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

We have just lived the Hilula* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, founder of the Yeshivah* Achei Temimim* of Pittsburgh. I hope that the dinner which will take place in the coming days of this month will find itself under the influence of the inspiring ways, the life, and the accomplishments of him whose Hilula* we celebrate. Each one of those who are linked to my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, and to his institutions must therefore relive them profoundly.

On this occasion, I would like to transmit to you an account (note 1: See, on this subject, letter no. 5557) that I hold from my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, and which delivers a perennial, immutable teaching for all of us, especially in this year which is the one hundred and fiftieth since the passing of the Admur HaZaken*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, founder of Chabad*.

The Admur HaEmtzai*, son of the Admur HaZaken*, had, as is known, an immense capacity for concentration. When he meditated on a certain idea, he did not hear and did not see what was happening around him.

Once, the Admur HaEmtzai* was concentrating on certain ideas when his child, whose cradle was nearby, fell out of it and burst into sobs, but the Admur HaEmtzai* did not even notice. At that moment, the Admur HaZaken* was in the room, on an upper floor. He himself was studying the Torah* deeply. Despite this, he heard the cries of the child, interrupted his study, came down, lifted the child, calmed him, and placed him back in his cradle. The Admur HaEmtzai*, on the other hand, saw nothing, noticed nothing, so concentrated was he. Subsequently, his father said to him: "However important the occupation to which one devotes oneself, one must always hear the cries of a child!"

* * *

This story was related to us and it is therefore clear that it delivers an important lesson, a concrete teaching, to each one of us. The Yeshivah*, in which a child receives a Torah* education, is a "cradle." We must ensure, not only that the children of the Yeshivah* do not fall from the cradle, which may Hashem forbid, but, furthermore, that the greatest number of children attend the Yeshivah*. It is only in this way that one will be able to assure them a life without tears, a truly happy existence, spiritually and materially.

Consequently, one must hope that each one of the participants and friends of the Yeshivah* Achei Temimim* of Pittsburgh, will mobilize, with generosity and enthusiasm, to strengthen and develop this "cradle" of capital importance, that of Torah* education, which you have the merit of having in your city.

The merit of the founder (note 2: The previous Rebbe*) and that of the Mitzvah* of Tzedakah*, of the strengthening of the Torah*, will protect all of you, as well as the members of your family, so that Hashem bless you in all your needs, material and spiritual, with much happiness, as well as a true and Jewish satisfaction. With my respects and my blessing,