1298 —ברכה לבר מצוה של בנו של הרב הראשי ומשמעותה העמוקה

B"H, 21 Kislev, 5712.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"m oseik b'tzt"z etc. Moreinu HaRav Yosef HaLevi Weinberg

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your telegram—and surely you will write more details about the farbrengen for the Festival of Redemption—see booklet Yud-Tes Kislev page 4 note 3—I sent a telegram today to the chief rabbi, and this is its text: For the Bar Mitzvah of his son, may it be G‑d's will that you raise him to Torah—Yaakov who dwells in the tents of Shem and Ever (study of Torah), and to chuppah—Yitzchak who was bound on Mount Moriah (the Beis HaMikdash), and to good deeds—Avraham who performs acts of kindness—the three branches on the vine of Israel. With blessings of Mazal Tov." The signature.

As a note and reference: For Torah—Yaakov dwelled in the tents of Shem and Ever refers to Torah study, as explained in Or HaTorah by tzt"z on Parshas Toldos: Shem refers to Torah Shebichsav (the Written Torah), which are names of Hashem; Ever refers to Torah Sheba'al Peh (the Oral Torah), as it says "and he passed before them," meaning drawing down and revealing Torah which is through Torah Sheba'al Peh.

And for chuppah—Yitzchak at the Beis HaMikdash, based on our sages in Midrash Shir HaShirim Zuta at its end (see also Zohar III 4b; Mishnah end of Taanis): "On his wedding day when the Shechinah descended into the Beis HaMikdash," this is the chuppah of Hashem and Israel together. Therefore there is such detailed explanation specifically regarding Yitzchak's marriage, unlike Avraham or Yaakov.

And for good deeds—Avraham who performs acts of kindness, as it says "that he will command his children and his household after him...to do righteousness...", which is primarily practical mitzvos and surpasses all others (Tanya ch. 37).

The three branches on the vine of Israel—based on our sages in Chullin 92a.

It is worth noting from my letters that I wrote to the chief rabbi regarding the travels of Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a nu"m oseik b'tzt"z baal middos etc. Moreinu HaRav Yosef HaLevi Weinberg shadar (12 Kislev), where there too it discussed matters related to Bar Mitzvah.

Summary

The Rebbe explains that traditional Bar Mitzvah blessings connect each patriarch with a key aspect: Yaakov with Torah study, Yitzchak with marriage under holiness, and Avraham with acts of kindness. These wishes guide a young Jew’s growth in all areas of life.