8604 —נתינה עם לב שלם בדינר ישיבת ליובאוויטש בבראנקס

B"H, 4 Adar, 5723.

Brooklyn, NY.

To the participants in the twelfth annual dinner of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in the Bronx, may Hashem be upon them and grant them life.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I send my greetings and blessing to all participants in the annual event of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in the Bronx, with an inner hope that this undertaking will fulfill all expectations, both financially and spiritually.

In this week's Torah portion—the first in a series discussing the building of the Mishkan—there is immediately a general instruction: 'Me'et kol ish asher yidvenu libo' (from every person whose heart moves him) to accept contributions from all Jews whose hearts are willing. All Jews needed to have a share in the Mishkan, but only contributions from those who gave wholeheartedly were accepted.

Superficially this seems like a contradiction. But in truth there is no contradiction, because all Jews give tzedakah for holy purposes with a warm heart; one just needs to find the right approach for each Jew. Then every Jew gives according to his ability: one who can give gold gives gold; one who can give silver gives silver; and one who can give copper gives copper.

And when a Jew gives with his whole heart, he certainly wants to give more than he is able, and Hashem counts even his heartfelt desire as tzedakah and grants him the blessing of 'Aser bishvil shetitasher' (tithe so that you may become wealthy). Thus, one who can currently only give copper is blessed to be able to give silver; one who can give only silver is blessed to be able to give gold; and one who can give gold is blessed to be able to give precious stones.

Our Sages of blessed memory often emphasized that the concept of Mishkan in our times has been transferred to the yeshivas—as Chazal say, after the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, the Shechinah dwells in 'the four cubits of halachah.' It is well known what was said by the Alter Rebbe, author of Tanya and Shulchan Aruch—the founder of Chabad—whose yahrzeit on 24 Teves marked 150 years since his passing: 'Hashem gives Jews materiality, and Jews transform materiality into spirituality.'

The tzedakah given by supporters of the Bronx Lubavitcher Yeshiva to sustain and strengthen it is the highest form of transforming material into spiritual—and thereby they are also blessed with increasing material abundance: from copper to silver and from silver to gold, etc.—and may they use it for good, healthy, and joyful things, in good health and with true Jewish nachas from their children.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that giving tzedakah wholeheartedly elevates both giver and gift. Supporting Torah institutions transforms material resources into spiritual merit and brings ever-increasing blessings—each person giving according to their means opens new channels for G‑d's kindness.