The importance of learning the alef-beis together with nikud, the vocalization marks

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Publishing the sichos of the Previous Rebbe; the unity symbolized by the mitzvah of lulav and esrog

No. 104

This letter was addressed to a distinguished Rabbi who served as a schochet (ritual slaughterer). His name was not published together with the letter.

Tishrei 6, 5704

Greetings and blessings,

From time to time, we write to Jewish soldiers and circulate different publications among them with the general intent of strengthening their spirits and in particular, with the intent of inspiring them to Jewish concerns.

At present, we have published an article[1] for soldiers based on the teachings of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, with regard to faith and trust [in G-d]. It was sent (obviously, without charge) together with a letter of blessing to all those Jewish soldiers whose addresses were known to us. If you will inform us of the address of your son and son-in-law who serve in the army, we will send them these pamphlets and add their names to our list, so that we can maintain written communication in the future.

We are also sending you, in a special package, several kuntreisim and pamphlets published by Kehot. For it became known to us, to our great amazement, that you do not possess all the books that we have published at different times. (If this is true concerning the cedars[2]....)[3]

These are the days between Rosh HaShanah and "Rosh HaShanah," i.e., Yom Kippur, which is also referred to as Rosh HaShanah, as Tosafos writes in Nedarim 23b. (See Sefer Chassidim, sec. 258; Likkutei Torah, the maamarim entitled VeHayah BaYom HaHu and Yichaiyanu Miyomayim.) This concept contains several deep allusions.[4] To cite one:

Every living being - and the Jews are described as being "alive"[5] - should take to heart that G-d did not command us to celebrate and commemorate Rosh HaShanah on [the anniversary of] the first day of creation when the heaven, the earth, and all their hosts were created (Bereishis Rabbah, ch. 1; see also Tosafos, entry Vi'es, Chagigah 12b). Nor [did He designate] the seventh day of creation, [Shabbos,] the day He chose to sanctify above all the other days. Instead, He commanded us to commemorate Rosh HaShanah on the day when G-d created man, the created being who immediately, on the day on which he was formed, announced to all the other creations: "G-d is King; He is garbed in glory"[6].... "Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow down, let us bend the knee before G-d who made us,"[7] as our Sages relate (Pirkei d'Rebbe Eliezer, ch. 11; Zohar, Vol. I, p. 221b).

Each one of us, including yourself, whom G-d has granted a measure of influence within his circle of acquaintances and colleagues, must - both verbally and through his conduct - announce: Before the glorious day when G-d will manifest His sovereignty over the entire earth, let us prepare for the great and awesome day of G-d[8] through teshuvah, Torah study, and good deeds.

You should be in the front lines of those who work - with their souls, with their bodies, and with their financial resources - in the campaign to strengthen Yiddishkeit and the observance of the Torah and its mitzvos among the extended circles of the Jewish community. (Some of the types of efforts [suggested] are explained in the outlines of the programs of Machne Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch which are printed in the anthology HaYom Yom.)

May G-d grant us the merit that through the slaughter[9] that we perform - i.e., the sacrifice of our natural inclinations (Sanhedrin 43b) - we will approach the day when the Holy One, blessed be He, will slaughter the evil inclination, as our Sages promised (Sukkah 52b).

With blessings for a chasimah and a g'mar chasimah tovah, and with the blessing "Immediately to teshuvah, immediately to Redemption,"

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) [See Letter No. 101.]

2. (Back to text) [Cf. Mo'ed Kattan 25b.]

3. (Back to text) [The Rebbe is obviously implying that such conduct is not becoming for a communal leader of stature. And if he is lacking in such matters, one can imagine what the state of the common people will be.]

4. (Back to text) [See Letter No. 102.]

5. (Back to text) [Avos d'Rebbe Nassan, ch. 34.]

6. (Back to text) [Tehillim 93:1.]

7. (Back to text) [Ibid., 92:6.]

8. (Back to text) [Cf. Malachi 3:23.]

9. (Back to text) [This letter was addressed to a ritual slaughterer.]

The importance of learning the alef-beis together with nikud, the vocalization marks

Table of contents

Search this book:

Publishing the sichos of the Previous Rebbe; the unity symbolized by the mitzvah of lulav and esrog