A[528] year ago today the Rebbe [Rayatz] wrote a letter[529] to the chassidim and students of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshivah[530] who had settled in the Holy Land. He dated the letter as follows: "Friday afternoon, erev Shabbos Kodesh of the week in which we read,[531] 'When you come to the Land..., the Land shall observe a Sabbath unto G-d.' "

In it the Rebbe [Rayatz] informs them, "I have directed the administration of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch to send you a Sefer Torah," and expresses his hope that it will serve --

as a constant reminder in your minds and your hearts to structure your private and public lives entirely according to the Torah, as we have been taught to do by our holy forebears, the Rebbeim whose souls are in Eden. May this Sefer Torah remind you to uncompromisingly educate your sons and daughters in its ways, and to diffuse its spirit, the spirit of our Patriarch Yaakov,[532] over your brother Jews -- both over those who are near at hand and over those who are momentarily distant -- by inspiring them and guiding them along the path that leads up to the House of G-d. This is the path of Torah study in a G-d-fearing spirit, the path of loving and meticulous observance of the mitzvos. May you guide your brethren along this path out of a feeling of real kinship that springs from the love of one's fellow Jew, and from the characteristically chassidic attributes that accord with the teachings of Chassidus.[533]

May every man and woman among you serve as a lamp to light up the darkness of exile -- in which you and we find ourselves -- with the light of G-d, until He fulfills the promise conveyed through His holy prophets, and lets us hear the voice of the herald who will bring tidings of salvation.[534] "For[535] G-d has comforted His people," and He will proceed before us to gather in our exiles and to liberate us with an everlasting Redemption.

We receive the Torah every single day, and every single day we bless Him Who gives us the Torah[536] -- for He gives it to us every day,[537] but particularly on the festival of Shavuos, the "time of the Giving of the Torah" for the entire year.

On this festival, as well as on the days before and after it, we should meditate deeply upon the words of the Rebbe [Rayatz] quoted above, in a way that gives rise to positive results throughout the year, in all the areas enumerated in his letter.

The appeal of the Rebbe [Rayatz] which he cried out to us from his innermost soul should constantly resound in our ears and minds and hearts:[538] "What are people waiting for?

The Redemption is being held up! It's already past noon on erev Shabbos!"

Menachem Schneerson

Friday afternoon, erev Shabbos Kodesh of the week in which we read,
"When you come to the Land..., the Land shall observe a Sabbath unto G-d," 5710 [1950]

   

Notes:

528. (Back to text) The Rebbe wrote this message on 21 Iyar, 5710 [1950], i.e., two weeks before Shavuos. It appears in Sefer HaMaamarim 5710 [1950], p. 222, and in Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XIII, p. 160.

529. (Back to text) A facsimile of the letter of the Rebbe Rayatz is reproduced in Sefer HaMaamarim 5709 [1949], p. 179, and in Igros Kodesh (Letters) of the Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. X, Letter 3479.

530. (Back to text) In the original, leAnash vetalmidei hatemimim.

531. (Back to text) Vayikra 25:2.

532. (Back to text) In the original, ruach Yisrael sava.

533. (Back to text) In the original, "the teachings of divrei Elokim chayim" (lit., "the words of the living G-d").

534. (Back to text) Cf. Yeshayahu 52:7.

535. (Back to text) Ibid. 49:13.

536. (Back to text) Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 10.

537. (Back to text) Likkutei Torah, s.v. Lehavin Mah SheKasuv: BaYom HaShemini Atzeres, end of sec. 2; see also op. cit., s.v. Ki Karov Eilecha, end of sec. 1.

538. (Back to text) From a sichah of the Second Day of Shavuos, 5709 [1949], sec. 19, appearing in Sefer HaMaamarim 5710 [1950], p. 245.