753 —לימוד יחד לפני ראש השנה וכוח אהבת ישראל

B"H, Tuesday of Selichos, may Hashem be with us.

Brooklyn, NY.

Haraha"ch vavac"h iy"a num"m etc. Moreinu HaRav Y.Y.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I am sending herewith the upcoming Rosh Hashanah kuntres, and surely you will share it with all those around you. It would be even better if it is studied together in a group, for if our Sages already extolled the virtue of learning not alone at any time, how much more so in the days before Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah itself, and during the Ten Days of Teshuvah—when there is a special quality in joining together. As explained in Chassidus on the verse Atem Nitzavim HaYom Kulchem ("You are all standing today")—this portion is always read before Rosh Hashanah—and hinted at in the word "HaYom," which refers to Rosh Hashanah: all sparks of souls stand and are elevated to their source before Hashem. It must be "Kulchem," that everyone gathers together as one—your heads, your tribes... down to your water drawer.

My father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe of blessed memory, concludes—who heard from his father the Rebbe Rashab (who received it as a tradition from Rebbe to Rebbe)—that when the Alter Rebbe was in Mezritch, his teacher the Maggid of Mezritch revealed to him who he was... And that his mission was to reveal and explain the Baal Shem Tov's teachings about love of Hashem and love of Israel, and to reveal the path of Chabad Chassidus. Above all—the Maggid passed on from his teacher, the Baal Shem Tov—that this path requires drawing close even simple Jews; one must love a Jew simply because he is a Jew.

The Previous Rebbe further explained that the Baal Shem Tov revealed the concept of connecting love of Hashem, love of Torah, and love of Israel. The Maggid revealed understanding and comprehension in uniting these three loves with an inner explanation for each mode: "with all your heart," "with all your soul," "with all your might." The Alter Rebbe revealed how each person can—and must—bring these three loves into action, stating that Ahavas Yisrael is the supernal gate upon which is inscribed in shining letters: "This is a supernal gate." Through this unity—when we all stand as one—Hashem our G‑d establishes us today (the day of Rosh Hashanah) as His people and He will be our G‑d; He will soon shine upon us with eternal light and redeem us with true and complete redemption very soon.

Blessing you for a good inscription and sealing for a good and sweet year.

M. Schneerson

* * *

Regarding what you wrote about yourself—your shortcomings etc.—I was reminded when reading your letter what my father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe z"l said regarding a certain story: One must not speak lashon hara even about a Jew—and not about oneself either. I await good news and happy occasions.

* * *

In your letter from Elul you complain that I did not answer your questions—but you did not ask me anything; you only sent a pan (petitionary note) to be read at the Ohel (gravesite), which I fulfilled as requested. If it is not so suitable for you personally, you can learn with young people from my father-in-law’s teachings several times a week—not necessarily every day.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that group Torah study before Rosh Hashanah strengthens unity among Jews and elevates everyone spiritually. Loving every Jew unconditionally is central to Chassidus; self-criticism should be gentle. Unity brings blessing for a sweet new year.