Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8604 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

4 Adar* 5723,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the participants in the twelfth annual dinner of the Yeshivah*

Lubavitch of the Bronx, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

I address my greetings and my blessing to all the participants in the annual celebration of the Yeshivah* Lubavitch of the Bronx, with the intense hope that it will satisfy all expectations, financially and morally.

In the Sidrah* of this week, the first of the three that describe the construction of the Sanctuary, a teaching is enunciated, which has a general scope, the necessity of receiving offerings "from every man whose heart is generous" (note 1: The Rebbe* underlines the words: "from every man whose heart is generous," "all," "all," "gold," "silver," "bronze," "the wish of his heart" and "you shall tithe in order to become wealthy"). For, all Jews had to participate in the construction of the Sanctuary. Yet, a restriction is indeed enunciated here and only those who were motivated by the generosity of their heart could bring their contribution, to this end. But, the contradiction between these two affirmations is only apparent. Indeed, all Jews who give Tzedakah* for a sacred cause do so systematically with a warm heart. It therefore suffices to find the means to motivate them so that they act thus. Thereupon, they bring their contribution generously, offering all the means at their disposal.

Consequently, he who can give gold will do so. If he has only silver, he will give it. And, he whose means are limited to bronze will give bronze. Nevertheless, he who acts with all his heart will surely want to surpass what his means allow him to do. And, Hashem will consider, in such a case, that the wish of his heart is also a form of Tzedakah*. He will therefore grant His blessing according to which (note 2: According to tractate Shabbos* 119a) "You shall tithe, in order to become wealthy." In this way, he who can only give bronze will be blessed and he will be able to offer silver. He who already does so will be blessed also and he will offer gold. Finally, he who already brings gold will also receive the blessing and his contribution will be made of precious stones.

Our Sages have, many times, underlined (note 3: According to tractate Megillah* 29a) that the Sanctuary is found, at the present time, in the Yeshivos*. They teach (note 4: According to tractate Berachos* 8a), indeed, that after the destruction of the Temple, "the Divine Presence resides in the four cubits of the Halachah*."

One knows the following saying (note 5: See, on this subject, letter no. 8581) of the Admur HaZaken*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, founder of Chabad*, whose one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the passing was celebrated this 24th of Teves*: "Hashem grants Jews material goods, so that they may make of them spirituality." The Tzedakah* that is offered by the donors of the Yeshivah* Lubavitch of the Bronx will allow to strengthen and develop this institution, to transform, in the best manner, the material into the spiritual, to be oneself blessed, in a concrete manner, by obtaining silver in place of bronze, gold in place of silver, to use it for what is judicious, in good health and in joy, to derive from one's children a true Jewish satisfaction. With my respects, my blessing of success, and to give me good news,

M. Schneerson,