6807 —תודה לנשי ובנות חב"ד בקליוולנד על הלאנטשען השנתי: זכותן של נשים צדקניות

B"H, 11 Nissan, 5719
Brooklyn.

Agudas Nshei U'Bnos Chabad, Cleveland branch – may G‑d be upon them, may they live!^[1]

Brachah v'Shalom!

It was with satisfaction that I read the report of your annual luncheon, which took place this past 19 Adar II^[2].

I wish hereby to express my thanks and blessing to all the participants, and especially to the helpers, in the success of the gathering, aimed at strengthening Yiddishkeit in all areas, and especially among Jewish women – who are those who bear the title "akeres habayis"^[3], the chief foundation and director of the Jewish home – to bring good fortune and joy to themselves, to their husbands and to their children, may they live.

I also wish to hope that the gathering, seeing the good work, will add to you still more energy and effort to continue the holy work in an ever-increasing measure, and as a result also to receive the blessings of G‑d, may He be blessed, in an ever-greater measure.

And as we approach the festival of Pesach, this should also serve as a lesson, for Jewish women in particular, to grasp the great merit – and at the same time the responsibility – of being those of whom, as once before, it shall also be said: "In the merit of righteous women our fathers were redeemed from Egypt"^[4] – so too from the present exile, through Moshiach our righteous redeemer, speedily in our days.

Your contribution for the vocational schools in Kfar Chabad^[5] has also been received, 260 (including the 100 from the Kinsman Branch^[6]).

And surely G‑d's promise will be fulfilled in actual fact, that the merit of tzedakah stands by each person and his household for whatever is needed, both materially and spiritually.

With wishes for a kosher and happy festival of Pesach, and that its joy be drawn down into all the days of the whole year.

Notes

1. May G‑d be upon them, may they live (ה' עליהן תחיינה): After Yeshayahu 38:16, אדני עליהם יחיו, here in the feminine. The Rebbe wrote to this branch of Agudas Nshei U'Bnos Chabad in Cleveland several times: acknowledging their letter on the election of new officers (vol. 12, letter 3998), and acknowledging their contributions to the Yud-Tes Kislev appeal for Shikun Chabad (vol. 16, letter 5959, 1 Teves 5718, "Nshei U'Bnos Chabad in the city of Cleveland, Kinsman branch"; letter 6134, 25 Adar 5718). See also vol. 23, letter 8805 (27 Nissan 5724, for the annual luncheon).

2. This past 19 Adar II (דעם פאריגען י"ט אדר שני): Sunday, 19 Adar II 5719 (29 March 1959), about three weeks before this letter. The "luncheon" (Yiddish לאונטשען) was the branch's annual gathering.

3. "Akeres habayis" (עקרת הבית): After Tehillim 113:9: מושיבי עקרת הבית אם הבנים שמחה, "He makes the barren woman of the house a joyful mother of children." The Rebbe reads עקרת הבית as the "essence" (עיקר) of the home: "the chief foundation and director of the Jewish home".

4. "In the merit of righteous women…" (בזכות נשים צדקניות נגאלו אבותינו ממצרים): The Gemara (Sotah 11b): דרש רב עוירא, בשכר נשים צדקניות שהיו באותו הדור, נגאלו ישראל ממצרים, "Rav Avira expounded: In reward for the righteous women of that generation, Israel was redeemed from Egypt" (the Rebbe writes "our fathers" for "Israel"). As then, the Rebbe adds, so will be the redemption from the present exile.

5. The vocational schools in Kfar Chabad (בתי ספר למלאכה בכפר חב"ד): Chabad's vocational schools in Kfar Chabad, where students learn a trade. The Rebbe followed them closely: he wrote to the students of the vocational school in Kfar Chabad about the table and menorah they had made and sent him (vol. 15, letter 5366), and wrote to the administration: "the central administration of the vocational schools is located here, in my secretariat" (vol. 17, letter 6466).

6. The Kinsman Branch (קינזמאן ברענטש): The Kinsman branch of Agudas Nshei U'Bnos Chabad in Cleveland (as the Rebbe addresses it in vol. 16, letter 5959: "Nshei U'Bnos Chabad in the city of Cleveland, Kinsman branch"). Of the 260, 100 came from this branch.

Summary

Thanking the Cleveland branch of Nshei U'Bnos Chabad for its annual luncheon, the Rebbe describes the Jewish woman as the "akeres habayis", the foundation of the home. As Pesach approaches, Jewish women should recognize their merit and responsibility: as the Jewish people was redeemed from Egypt in the merit of righteous women, so will it be in the final redemption. He also acknowledges their contribution to the vocational schools in Kfar Chabad.