6864 —הוספת פעולות, צמיחה רוחנית, ומשמעות השמיטה

B"H, 16 Iyar, 5719.

Brooklyn.

Sh"B Haraha"ch iy"a nu"n etc. Shmuel Menachem Mendel Schneersohn

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter reporting on your activities over recent weeks. May it be G‑d's will that these activities succeed in a manner of ever-increasing growth and light. Certainly, it is unnecessary to elaborate on the great merit of those who strive in this area. May it be fulfilled in them: "the reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah," and "one mitzvah brings another," so that they go from strength to strength in these activities—until "ufaratzta yamah vakeidmah vatzafonah vanegbah" (you shall spread out westward, eastward, northward, and southward), reaching an inheritance without boundaries.

This year is a Shemitah year—a Sabbath for the L‑rd—and when one acts spiritually in matters alluded to by "six years you shall sow," as is known that their general theme is Torah and its study (for study leads to action), one then approaches an even higher level: from "a Sabbath for the L‑rd" to "a complete Sabbath." This follows the order of verses at the beginning of Parshas Behar. See also Likkutei Torah Behar, discourse beginning with V'Shavsah; Sefer Maamarim of Admor Maharash for the year 5627, discourse beginning with V'Shavsah and its conclusion—'Shabbat Shabbaton,' which is like the future time—the day that is entirely Shabbat. As explained in the series for Rosh Hashanah 5666 (1905-06), even in that future era this is still only the very first and highest level.

Blessings for good news in visible and revealed good.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that continuous growth in Torah activities brings ever-greater merit. By connecting our efforts to the spiritual lessons of Shemitah, we can ascend from regular holiness to ever-higher levels—ultimately striving for a world filled with revealed G‑dliness.