6855 —ההכנה הרוחנית של ימי הספירה ותמיכה בתומכי תמימים

B"H, Erev Shabbat Kodesh Parshas Emor, 5719.

Brooklyn.

To our brothers, the children of Israel — may Hashem be upon them and grant them life.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

We find ourselves in the days of Sefirah, which in their deeper meaning are days of preparation for receiving the Torah. According to our Sages, these days of Sefirah bring us back to the time of the Exodus from Egypt, when Jews counted the days and weeks with great inner longing immediately after their physical liberation until the moment of their spiritual liberation at Mount Sinai. They did not yet know exactly what Torah was or what Torah would mean for each individual and for the community as a whole. It was enough to know that the entire purpose of leaving Egypt was for receiving the Torah, because deep in their hearts had already sprouted the thought of Ahavas Hashem (love of G‑d), Ahavas HaTorah (love of Torah), and Ahavas Yisrael (love of fellow Jews), which our forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov had planted in every Jewish heart.

This great inner longing, which expressed itself in daily life, led to Jews reaching in a very short time the level of "Mamleches Kohanim v'Goy Kadosh" (a kingdom of priests and a holy nation). For 1723 years since leaving Egypt and standing at Mount Sinai — most of which were spent by Jews in one exile after another — Jews have been deeply convinced that Torah is Toras Chaim (a living Torah) — in the literal sense — our life both as individuals and as a people. It is therefore self-evident how great our longing for Torah must be.

Even if various circumstances sometimes obscure a Jew's inner connection with Torah and its mitzvos, it is necessary from time to time to awaken the Jewish heart — which is truly always awake (Lev Yisrael er hu). The Torah says (in this week's parsha): "Emor el haKohanim... v'Amarta" (Say to the Kohanim... and say again) — say it once and then again — "Lehazhir Gedolim al haKetanim" (to instruct adults regarding minors). All Jews are like Kohanim (Mamleches Kohanim), and although Kohanim are zealous and not sleepy, they too need to be awakened often. Most importantly: they should remember not only their own duty but also move others to fulfill theirs.

There are those whose greatness lies in talent or influence, and those whose greatness lies in wealth. Each person must act in whatever area Divine Providence has placed him. Of course, one who is great in all these areas has a proportionally greater responsibility; his obligation to fulfill his duty is even greater and stronger.

I turn to you, our brothers Bnei Yisrael, on behalf of the central Lubavitcher Yeshiva "Tomchei Temimim," which now finds itself in a critical financial situation. If this Lubavitcher Yeshiva were being founded now for the first time and requested your support, you would surely respond with utmost warmth. Especially since this yeshiva has managed — with G‑d's help and with self-sacrifice from its students and heads — to survive over sixty years through one exile after another. It has clearly demonstrated its unique inner value, endurance, and devotion to Torah and mitzvos in purity.

Each one is included in the call "Lehazhir Gedolim al haKetanim"; everyone must respond with zeal — even self-sacrifice — to this call for help from Lubavitcher Yeshiva in its current critical financial state. In this merit, minors will become great and great ones even greater in every respect: "Ki gadol Hashem u'geduloso ein cheker" (for great is Hashem and His greatness is unsearchable), and surely Hashem will not remain indebted — granting children, life, sustenance abundantly both materially and spiritually together.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that just as Sefirah prepares us spiritually for receiving the Torah through longing and unity, so too must we actively support institutions like Tomchei Temimim—each according to his ability—ensuring Jewish continuity both materially and spiritually.