An explanation of our Sages' statement: "Load the camel according to its strength"

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The importance of a positive self-image

No. 44

This letter was written to Reb Y. Sheinfeld of Roxbury, Mass.

B"H, Zos Chanukah, 5703

Greetings and blessings,

As per your instructions during your last visit, we have sent the printed matter prepared for youth by Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch to your daughter. Certainly, with her great resources of energy and influence, she will endeavor that the monthly journals reach [many Jewish] boys and girls. In this way, she will be one of those who "bring merit to the many," and thus:[1] "The merit of the many will be dependent on her."

It is our hope that in the future, you will also try to spread the printed matter published by Merkos to the youth in your circle of influence. For the entire mission of Merkos is to draw Jewish boys and girls close to the Torah, its mitzvos, and the tradition of their ancestors. For "if there are no kids, there will be no goats;"[2] the children and the students of today are the sages of tomorrow, and upon them is dependent G-d's resting His presence upon the Jewish people, as stated in the Talmud Yerushalmi (Sanhedrin 10:2).

In these days, which are, to borrow the wording of our Sages (Sanhedrin 97b), days of harsh decrees like those of Haman, the remedy advised by our Sages (Bava Metzia 85a) is to educate the son of an unlearned person [and show him his place] in our Torah heritage, and to transform a wicked person into a baal teshuvah, as implied by the interpretation offered by the Targum and Rashi to the verse from Yirmeyahu cited [as a prooftext] in that passage.[3] For this nullifies these harsh decrees. Everyone should picture the entire world as equally balanced between good and evil, and realize that through his good deeds he can tip the balance of the world to good and bring rescue and deliverance.[4]

With the blessing "Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,"

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) [Cf. Avos 5:18]

2. (Back to text) [Prologue to Esther Rabbah, sec. 11.]

3. (Back to text) [See above Letters No. 39 and 42 for the explanation of these sources.]

4. (Back to text) [Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4.]

An explanation of our Sages' statement: "Load the camel according to its strength"

Table of contents

Search this book:

The importance of a positive self-image