Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8633 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

eve of Shavuos* 5723, time of the giving of our Torah*,

one hundred and fiftieth year of the

passing of the Admur HaZaken*,

Brooklyn, New York,

To all the participants in the celebration destined to prepare the

ground for the new building of the central Yeshivah*

Tomchei Temimim* of Brooklyn and to our brothers, the children

of Yisrael* who observe the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, in general,

may Hashem grant you long life (note 1: See the Likkutei Sichos*, volume 13, at page 174),

I greet you and bless you,

On the occasion of the great joy of the Mitzvah*, the first step of the process currently underway to provide with a new building the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch* of Brooklyn, I address my warm wishes and my blessing to all those who take part in this great joy and in this great Mitzvah*. I wish to hope that each one of those who accord value to the Torah* and to education based on sacred values will not only ensure, by all means, that this beginning receives the greatest success possible, but, in addition, that they will come to the aid to realize the construction of this new building, as quickly as possible.

This requires a triple participation: financial, physical, and moral.

Financial: In the most simple sense, the financial participation must be as broad as possible, not according to one's own conception, but in accordance with the generosity of Hashem from which one has been able to benefit.

Physical: One must give of one's own person, of one's time, of one's effort, find new friends, supporters, participants for the new building.

Moral: One must offer one's soul, literally, even if it seems, for example, that one could have, instead of this, intensified one's study of the Torah*. Indeed, the strengthening and the dissemination of the Torah* and the Mitzvos* among the greatest number justify that one make the sacrifice of one's own moral existence.

In reality, for spiritual Tzedakah*, as is the case for material Tzedakah*, the assurance is given (note 2: In tractate Shabbos* 119a) that the setting aside of the tithe for others, as it is said: "set aside, you shall set aside the tithe" (note 3: The Rebbe* underlines these words), is the source of wealth, both physical and moral. In addition to the intrinsic Mitzvah* that Tzedakah* constitutes, the support that Yissachar* brings to the study of Zevulun*, the latter also receives a share of the study of the former.

These days are linked to the giving of the Torah*. In fact, a Jew must remember every day the revelation of Sinai*. Without a doubt, each one will therefore remember that it is by the merit of our children that we received the Torah* and, consequently, one will become aware of the necessity to come to the aid of educational institutions that are based on sacred values. Moreover, the central Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch* is well known, for decades, as one of the great accomplishments of Torah* in our era.

The merit of strengthening and disseminating the Torah* among the greatest number will surely protect each one of you, so that you be blessed in all your needs, both material and spiritual. With my blessing for a considerable success, as well as to receive the Torah* with joy and in a profound manner,

Menachem Schneerson,