8366 —באנקעט יערלי פון ליידיס אקזילערי ומטבע של אש של צדקה

B"H, Friday Eve of Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa, 5722.

Brooklyn, NY.

Annual banquet of the Ladies Auxiliary of Brownsville and East New York for the Lubavitcher Yeshivos "Tomchei Temimim"

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your notification about the annual banquet taking place this Sunday, G‑d willing, I am sending my greetings and blessing to all participants and my heartfelt hope that this undertaking will achieve its deserved success, both financially and spiritually.

As is customary among Jews to connect all important events with the weekly Torah portion, I wish to refer to the beginning of this week's parsha read on this Shabbos, which discusses the mitzvah of the half-shekel.

The Midrash relates that Moshe Rabbeinu wondered how a silver coin donated by a Jew to the Mishkan could possess such tremendous power that it is accepted as "kofer nefesh" (atonement money), just as if one had given one's very life to the Almighty. The Almighty showed Moshe Rabbeinu a fiery coin (matbe'a shel esh) and said: "This is what they shall give" (kaze yitnu).

The explanation is: Although money is a physical thing, when a Jew gives tzedakah for a holy purpose—such as a Mishkan or a yeshivah—and gives it as it should be given: in full measure, with all his heart and with true joy and enthusiasm—he connects it with the fire of his G‑dly soul. Thus even something as simple and physical as money becomes a fiery holy thing and acquires the G‑dly power of "kofer nefesh."

The work of the Ladies Auxiliary in helping create this "fiery coin" for Tomchei Temimim should be inspired by the participation of Jewish women in building the Mishkan, where they especially distinguished themselves with their dedication and self-sacrifice, serving as a living example for everyone.

May Hashem bless your efforts with great success—in quantity and quality—and send His blessing to you and your families, as well as to all participants and their families, in everything needed both materially and spiritually together.

With blessings for good news.

Summary

This letter teaches that charity given wholeheartedly transforms material gifts into spiritual offerings. The Rebbe encourages women to emulate their ancestors’ dedication in supporting holy causes like Tomchei Temimim.