104 —שליחת חוברות לחילים יהודים ומשמעות עמוקה של ראש השנה

Shalom u'Vrachah! Friday, the month of Tishrei, 5704.

Honored vavac"h iy"a exalted and distinguished etc... sho"b Shalom u'Vrachah!

From time to time we correspond with the Jewish soldiers and send them various booklets to strengthen their hearts in general and to awaken them in matters of Judaism in particular.

Now a new essay for soldiers has been published, based on the words of my father-in-law, the Rebbe shlita, regarding faith and trust. It is being sent (of course free of charge) along with a letter of blessing to all the Jewish soldiers whose addresses are known to us. If you inform us of your son’s or son-in-law’s address who are serving in the army, we will send them these booklets as well and add their names to our list so we can continue corresponding with them in the future, as above.

We are sending you in a special package some of the pamphlets and booklets published by "Kehot," because we were quite surprised that until now you do not have the books that have been published by us at various times (and if this is so with the mighty ones...).

These days between Rosh Hashanah and "Rosh Hashanah," meaning Yom Kippur—which is also called Rosh Hashanah as Tosafos explains (Nedarim 23b; see also Sefer Chassidim section 258, Likkutei Torah on "Vehayah Bayom Hahu Yitaka" and "Yechayenu Miyomayim")—contain many deep hints. One of them: every living being—Israel is called "life"—should take to heart that G‑d commanded us to celebrate Rosh Hashanah not on the first day of Creation when heaven and earth were created (Bereishis Rabbah ch. 1; see Tosafos Chagigah 12b), nor on the seventh day which G‑d chose as holier than all others—but rather He commanded us specifically to make Rosh Hashanah on the day man was created. Man, who immediately upon his creation declared before all beings: 'Hashem Malach Geus Lavesh...' ('G‑d reigns; He has donned grandeur...'), 'Bo'u Nishtachaveh Venichra'ah Nivrecha Lifnei Hashem Osenu' ('Come let us bow down and kneel before G‑d our Maker'), as told by our Sages (Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer ch. 11; Zohar I:231b).

Each one of us—including yourself—who has been granted influence among his acquaintances must proclaim through speech and action: Before that bright day when G‑d will be King over all the earth arrives, come prepare for G‑d's great and awesome day through teshuvah, Torah study, and good deeds.

You should be at the forefront—body, soul, and resources—in efforts to strengthen Judaism and observance of Torah and mitzvos among ever-wider circles of Jews (several methods for this work are explained in the programs of "Machane Israel" and "Merkaz L’Inyanei Chinuch" printed in Hayom Yom).

And may G‑d grant that through our own "slaughtering"—that is, one who slaughters his evil inclination (Sanhedrin 43b)—the day will soon come when G‑d Himself will slaughter the evil inclination, as our Sages taught (Sukkah 52b).

With blessings for sealing for good and a good inscription immediately for teshuvah—immediately for redemption,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that strengthening others in faith uplifts both sender and recipient. By preparing ourselves spiritually during these days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—and helping others do so—we hasten redemption for all.