8378 —עידוד האחדות וקיום מצוות בכל בתי הספר היהודיים

B"H, 5 Adar Sheni, 5722.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I received your letter with the attached booklet in due time. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter, and certainly you will continue to do so in the future. I hope you received the regards I sent through travelers from here some time ago.

On this occasion, which is timely, you surely remember that last year I encouraged efforts so that students in schools—and my view is well known that I do not mean a specific type of school but all schools, since every son and daughter of Israel are children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov and daughters of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah—should fulfill the mitzvot of Mishloach Manot and Matanot LaEvyonim.

Although our Sages said: "Do not sit and weigh the mitzvot of the Torah," here the intention is about one mitzvah leading to another mitzvah. Since these aforementioned mitzvot are easy to fulfill—and furthermore, since every mitzvah has its own unique quality—and these particular mitzvot involve unity among Jews (which unfortunately is needed even though it is not election season), there is always room to increase efforts in bringing hearts closer together and uniting as one people. This should be realized throughout the year as we pray on Rosh Hashanah: "May they all form one group to do Your will with a complete heart."

I am not deterred by those who say this is just a fantasy; for specifically in Jewish life generally—and especially regarding Eretz Yisrael and its matters—we have seen that things which seemed like fantasies without a natural basis or logical calculation have actually come true. All the more so during Adar, which are days of success for Jews.

It is well known how our Sages explained why we are called Yehudim—because they rejected idolatry and all things foreign to Torah spirit and service of Hashem—both in doing good and turning away from evil; positive commandments and prohibitions included in "Anochi" (I am) and "Lo Yihiyeh Lecha" (You shall have no other gods), from which everything else flows (see Tanya beginning chapter 20). Moreover, this should be done as Chassidus demands—with joy and gladness of heart.

With honor and blessings for good news appropriate to these days when we increase in joy.

Regarding the article in the booklet "Expressions from Kabbalah in Our Language," I would like to note (albeit briefly) that more could be added: Olam HaEin Sof (World of Infinity), Olam HaTa'anug (World of Delight/Yearning), Olam HaRatzon (World of Will), Olam HaPirud (World of Separation), etc.—all these have entered literature, speeches, etc., starting from the world of holiness down to the world of kelipot and sitra achra. The quote from Tanya chapter 4 does not refer to worlds but rather to a person's soul. The concept "world of thought," etc., appears in his Torah Or (75b) and elsewhere.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that unity among Jews can be fostered through practical mitzvah observance by all children regardless of their school background. He stresses that even seemingly small acts can lead to greater unity and spiritual success for all Israel.