652 —ברכות בר מצוה ומשמעות ההפיכה לאדם

B"H, 28th of Tammuz, may Hashem grant success to the Avrech Moreinu Harav ... may he live.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Your father, may he live, wrote that on the 11th of Tammuz you became Bar Mitzvah and requests a blessing. Hereby I express my blessings that, as in the blessings of my revered father-in-law the Rebbe hk"m, you should be G‑d-fearing, a chassid, and a scholar. May your parents, may they live, see much nachas from you and their other children—chassidic nachas—with abundance.

My revered father-in-law the Rebbe hk"m related that for Bar Mitzvah discourses it was customary (amongst the Nesi'im) to begin with Na'aseh Adam ("Let us make man")—and when giving out the discourse to be copied, sometimes this beginning was omitted. This means that the Bar Mitzvah boy must know that he is to attain the level of 'Adam,' which is the highest among four titles: Adam, Ish, Gever, Enosh (see Hayom Yom 4 Elul 5703; Dvarim Vayavo Amalek 5709 – Kuntres 62 – ch.2). One must work on this immediately and not postpone it for later; then he is assisted from Above to become an Adam (see Sefer HaToldos p.64).

Surely you recited a maamar Chassidus on your Bar Mitzvah day and say daily the Rebbe's kapitel Tehillim—which is now chapter 71—and you should continue this without a vow at least until Rosh Hashanah 5711 coming up soon.

Signed with blessing,
Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
From a copy by the Secretariat.
A similar text was sent to several who reached Bar Mitzvah age; one copy is presented here as an example.
Sefer HaToldos: Admor Maharash, published by our Rebbe shlita (Kehot 5707). Kapitel ... 71: see also above letter #644 and its notes there.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that becoming Bar Mitzvah means striving immediately to reach the level of 'Adam,' representing spiritual maturity and refinement. Daily commitment to Torah study and prayer helps achieve this goal and brings true chassidic nachas to one's family.