. . . This get-together is all the more meaningful as it exemplifies what we read in the Megillah on Purim, just a few days ago: "There is one people (though) spread and scattered among the nations." (Megillas Esther 3:8)

We are assembled here, a group of individuals with diversified backgrounds and business interests, and who come from different geographical areas. Yet, all are truly one by virtue of their neshamah, and by the one Torah from Sinai, and -- at this point in time and place -- are even more closely unified by a common bond and commitment to a unique cause: a cause which is not only rooted in the "great principle" of the Torah, v'ahavta lre'acha kamocha (Love your fellow as yourself), but one that reaches out to our fellow Jews -- individuals as well as communities -- scattered in all parts of the world.

Each one of you has a very special zechut (merit) to be a partner in an endeavor of such worldwide scope. Yet, with all that a benefactor does for the beneficiary, it is outweighed by far by what the beneficiary does for the benefactor, in terms of the eternal zechut that the beneficiary affords the benefactor. This is one more reason why all forms of tzedakah should be given with the utmost, sincerest joy and gratitude, bearing in mind that, on the one hand, the giver knows that he/she has been chosen to be the trustee and shaliach (agent) of Divine Providence to help the recipient; and on the other hand, that the recipient has been assigned to be the shaliach from Above to bring to the giver and his/her family that great and eternal zechut.

The shlichut (mission) of each one of you is all the more significant because it is centered on promoting Torah education of our young generation -- "young" both in age, as well as in terms of knowledge and experience of Yiddishkeit. For in this area, the benefits to all involved are truly immeasurable, inasmuch as they generate an everlasting chain-reaction, whereby the beneficiaries become benefactors, not only for their own contemporaries, but also from generation to generation, for all posterity.

Moreover, and enormously important, this kind of endeavor eases the galut and hastens the geulah (Redemption), as Torah declares that through the abundance of tzedakah the galut is shortened, and the true and complete geulah through Mashiach Tzidkeinu is brought closer.

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It is customary to look for a relevant message in the sidra (portion) of the week. The current sidra is Shemini. It begins with an account of the consecration of the Mishkan (Sanctuary) that took place on the eighth day (following seven days of inaugural Mishkan service and consecration of the kohanim -- priests). On that day -- it was Rosh Chodesh Nissan -- Moshe Rabbeinu summoned Aharon, his sons, the Elders and all the people, and informed them that this was the day of the final erection of the Mishkan, and of the installation of Aharon into his high office as Kohen Gadol (High Priest), all of which was to be culminated by the revelation of G-d's Glory (Presence) before their eyes.

In the second section of the sidra -- corresponding to the second day of the week (today) -- the account continues with Aharon's carrying out his sacred duties exactly as G-d instructed Moshe, then raising his hands and blessing the people. Then Moshe and Aharon came out of the Sanctuary and blessed the people, "and the glory of HaShem appeared unto all the people."

What is the message that can be derived from the above account, a message that is relevant to the present occasion?

In the previous sidrot the Torah has already told us, at great length and in detail, how all the Jewish people, women and men, responded most enthusiastically to G-d's request and promise, "Make for Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell among you and within each of you." The Torah also notes how eagerly and generously the people brought their contributions, and how everything was carried out most scrupulously by the chief architects, Betzalel and Ahaliav, under the guidance of Moshe Rabbeinu. Everyone knew in his/her heart that a wonderful and extraordinary thing had been accomplished, and G-d surely knew it and was pleased. What, then, is new in the second section of today's sidra that is relevant to our get-together?

What is new is that it impresses upon us how much G-d cherishes the sincere efforts of everyone who carries out His will, be he/she a modest contributor, or a high-ranking communal benefactor. We see this from the fact that although G-d knew that everything He had requested was most enthusiastically carried out to the minutest detail, He was not yet satisfied. Nor was it sufficient that each one knew it in his/her heart. G-d wanted this knowledge and these feelings to be manifest for everyone to see. Good deeds, excellent performance (including those performed anonymously) should be known and acknowledged, thereby, also, to "encourage the energetic," as well as to inspire others to emulate them. Let even the gentile neighbors see how Jews conduct their life in the service of G-d, "with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their substance," and that by serving their fellow-Jews and the greater community, they also make the world at large a better place for all to live in.

We are reminded again and again that whenever and wherever a Jew makes a mikdash and mishkan for G-d's Presence -- even in a midbar (wilderness), in galut -- G-d is there. And every time a Jew does a mitzvah, recognizing that it is G-d "who has sanctified us by His mitzvot" -- he/she makes a mikdash dedicated to His Name.

This is the relevance of today's Torah reading to the present occasion, with Moshe telling the Jewish people to prepare themselves for G-d's extraordinary graciousness in revealing His Presence not only in the Sanctuary, but before their very eyes, and the Torah declaring that, indeed, "the Glory of HaShem appeared unto all the people."

Our get-together is all the more significant, since we meet here in a mikdash me'at, a holy place, where my saintly father-in-law, the Rebbe, davvened, studied and taught during the last decade of his life in this world.

I am confident that what we are accomplishing here today will lastingly inspire each and all of us -- myself included -- in all the days ahead, to permeate the totality of everyday life, including those hours when one is not strictly engaged in Torah study and prayer, but in so-called lay or business matters, etc. -- since a Jew serves G-d in all his ways.

I trust and pray that this gathering will stimulate each and all of us, as well as all those whom this message reaches, to increase everyone's resolve and efforts to strengthen Yiddishkeit throughout the world, through Torah education for young and old.

Thus we move on from Adar II -- the joyous month connected with the miracle of Purim, to Nissan, the month of the geulah, the month of many nissim (miracles) that began with the geulah from Mitzrayim (Egypt) and will culminate with the true and complete geulah through Mashiach Tzidkeinu. May it come very soon, in our days, Amen.

With esteem and blessing for a happy and kosher Pesach.