56 —תמיכה בבתי רבקה ותפקיד הנשים היהודיות

B"H, 1 Adar II, 5703.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With great thanks, we confirm receipt of your contribution in the amount of $10,000 for the benefit of the Beis Rivka Girls' School on Chester Street, which is one of a series of girls' schools established by Merkaz L'Inyonei Chinuch. We hope that this will not be a one-time or coincidental assistance, but rather the beginning of ongoing interest and participation in the important and holy work of the Beis Rivka school—an institution dedicated to the true Jewish education of Jewish daughters.

Esteemed women! In this difficult time for our people Israel, we must remember what happened in the days of the first Haman who rose against the Jews. Those who brought about his downfall with G‑d's help were a woman and a man: Esther and Mordechai. Esther did not consider her own well-being nor that she was not in danger; instead, she risked her life to save her brothers and sisters. But before going to plead against Haman's decree, she told Mordechai: "Lech Kenos Es Kol HaYehudim" (Go gather all the Jews)—gather everyone together so they would pray. Our sages tell us that Mordechai gathered tens of thousands of Jewish children and learned Torah with them.

In this current time of distress, when another great Haman has arisen, this Haman too will surely meet a bitter end, and for Jews there will be light and joy. However, each one of us must work so that this will come as quickly as possible. Every Jewish woman must go out with the call: "Lech Kenos! Gather together Jewish children and youth! Educate them in a spirit of mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) for Judaism and Torah! We women will see—with G‑d's help—that there will be no lack of means to support these institutions! But our sons and daughters must be Jews—Jews loyal to Torah!" Through such determination comes a downfall upon all Hamans throughout history very quickly.

Esteemed women! See to it that your daughters also follow in your footsteps by receiving proper Torah-true education in suitable educational institutions. Ensure that these institutions have the ability to exist and increase their number of students so that no Jewish daughter is left out. In Beis Rivka schools, Jewish daughters are raised as proud, Torah-true Jewish sisters and women—the mothers of the coming generation. Therefore, by helping Beis Rivka schools you help secure our youth—our future. And in this merit we will soon witness the downfall of today's Haman and true light and joy.

Summary

The Rebbe emphasizes that supporting girls’ Torah education is crucial for communal survival and redemption. He urges women to take active roles like Esther did—ensuring every daughter receives proper chinuch—so that light and joy may soon replace hardship for all Israel.