An explanation of why Rosh HaShanah does not fall on Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday

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Rosh HaShanah greetings and wishes

No. 299

This letter was addressed to R. Ben Tzion Shemtov, one of the leading members of the chassidic brotherhood.

B"H, the day preceding Yom Kippur, 5708

Greetings and blessings,

I received your letter and I sent you a package of books to Rabbi Benjaminson's address. I recalled those imprisoned [in Russia before my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita]. Here, on the day prior to Rosh HaShanah, each year, a general pidyon is submitted on behalf of all the members of the chassidic brotherhood and the temimim who are overseas.

To conclude with a matter relevant to the present day: This morning, when the shochet came to my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe Shlita, [to enable him to fulfill] the mitzvah of covering the blood [of a slaughtered fowl, as is necessary after the custom of kapores, the Rebbe] said: "My father said (apparently also after covering the blood on the day preceding Yom Kippur): 'With regard to the Divine service of the day preceding Yom Kippur, if one must activate the attributes of might and severity, one must cover them with kindness, i.e., cover them with loose earth, [analogous to the quality of] bittul. One feels [the approaching spiritual influence,] that "on this day, atonement [will be granted]."[229]

With blessings for a chasimah and a gmar chasimah tovah,

Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Chairman of the Executive Committee

   

Notes:

229. (Back to text) [Vayikra 16:30.]

An explanation of why Rosh HaShanah does not fall on Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday

Table of contents

Search this book:

Rosh HaShanah greetings and wishes