Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9158

By the grace of Hashem,

25 Sivan 5726,
Brooklyn, New York,

To the students of the Tomchei Temimim* Lubavitch Yeshiva,
on the occasion of their graduation celebration[1], in Montreal,
may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet and bless you,

On the occasion of your graduation celebration, which will take place on 4 Tammuz, I send my greetings and blessing to those concerned with this graduation, as well as to the teachers, directors, and educators of all the students. May Hashem bring it about that this celebration inspire the proper motivation and instill the moral strength to advance in every domain of Torah and Mitzvot[2]. If such is the purpose of a graduation celebration every year, how much more is this so when, as this year, it takes place in the seventh year, that of Shemittah[3], which is called "Shabbat for Hashem"[4] and which is compared to the holy Shabbat[5].

Of the latter it is said that "the sleep of Shabbat is a pleasure," even though when a man sleeps, his intellect — the highest faculty he possesses — is likewise asleep, which indeed means that everything[3] about him, including in the most ordinary sense, his sleep, must be sanctified for Hashem. And the same applies to the Shemittah. In that year, only the various types of agricultural work were prohibited, while all other work was permitted. But the Torah required that, in all the other concerns of daily existence, throughout the year, one be able to feel the "Shabbat for Hashem." Moreover, the time freed by the cessation of agricultural activity must be devoted to Torah study and the observance of Mitzvot[6], with greater depth and inwardness.

One must therefore hope that the graduation celebration will take place under the influence and spirit of Shemittah. Indeed, the impact of the seventh year was to be felt during the other years as well, just as the influence of Shabbat is perceptible throughout all the days of the week. May Hashem grant success to each one of those concerned with this graduation, among all the students of the Yeshiva, so that they achieve their goal, that they fulfill the mission that the founder of this Yeshiva, whose merit protects us, entrusted to the Temimim*[7] — that of being "candles to illuminate"[3] with the light of the revealed part of Torah and with that of Chassidut[8], in the most complete manner, with joy and enthusiasm. With my blessing for considerable success, both material and spiritual, and for good tidings,

M. Schneerson,

Notes

[1] Of the school year.
[2] See Likkutei Sichot, vol. 7, p. 359. Regarding its content, see also letter no. 9331.
[3] The Rebbe emphasizes the words: "the seventh year, that of Shemittah," "everything," and "candles to illuminate."
[4] Behar 25:2–4.
[5] See, on this topic, letter no. 9137.
[6] See the commentary of the Sforno on this passage in Parshat Behar.
[7] To the students of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva.
[8] See Torat Menachem, Hitvaaduyot, vol. 4, p. 228.