8565 —פעולת האברך, קירוב הנוער העובד וערך העבודה הנושאת פרי

B"H, Chanukah, 5723.

Brooklyn, NY.

The Avrech involved with tzt"z Mr. Avraham sheyichyeh

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I was pleased to hear about your meeting with the working youth—not only with their counselors but also with the boys and girls themselves—and your efforts to bring them closer to traditional Judaism.

It is well known that our holy Torah, called a "Torah of Life" because it guides daily living worthy of its name, has a positive attitude toward work in general and workers in particular. Our Sages greatly praised this, as told about the first Jew: "Echad hayah Avraham" (Avraham was unique). When he traveled through various lands and saw people eating, drinking, and acting frivolously, he said: 'May I have no share in this land.' But when he arrived in Eretz Yisrael and saw people busy weeding at the time for weeding and hoeing at the time for hoeing, he said: 'May my portion be in this land.' The Holy One said to him: 'To your descendants I will give this land' (Bereishis Rabbah ch. 39:8).

This is especially true regarding Eretz Yisrael—the Holy Land—as our Sages expound on the verse "Ki savo'u el ha'aretz u'netatem" (When you come into the land and plant), teaching that one must first engage in work and planting. In this way we emulate the Holy One Himself who was the first planter: From the beginning of creation G‑d engaged only in planting first—as it is written: "Vayita Hashem Elokim gan b'Eden" (And Hashem G‑d planted a garden in Eden). So too, when you enter the land you should engage only in planting first (Vayikra Rabbah Kedoshim ch. 25:3).

Everything is precise—the essence of planting is that it produces fruit; likewise, the value of work lies in producing fruit and fruit that produces more fruit.

This is generally the idea of "B'chol derachecha da'eihu" (In all your ways know Him)—that a Jew must sanctify all his affairs, including his work—especially in the Holy Land. If this is every person's task, how much more so for working youth who are endowed with extra energy as they enter life’s path.

May it be G‑d’s will that he and his friends act according to Chanukah’s lesson—always increasing light.

With heartfelt regards to all mentioned above sheyichyu and blessings for success and good news.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that productive labor has deep Torah value—especially in Eretz Yisrael—and encourages sanctifying every aspect of life through positive action and continuous growth inspired by Chanukah’s increasing light.