8959 —שנה מעוברת, פורים, וכוח להשלים ולשמור זמן

B"H, 11th of Adar Sheini, 5725.

Brooklyn, NY.

Regarding the annual gathering of the "Netzivei HaYeshivah" Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch in Montreal — may Hashem be upon them and grant them life.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I send my greetings to all participants in the annual gathering, together with a blessing that this undertaking should be with great success in every respect.

This year, the annual gathering takes place in a leap year and in the month of Adar Sheini. Our Jewish calendar, which determines all times and festivals throughout the year, is connected to the cycle of the moon and also to the seasons (tekufot), which depend on the sun's cycle. The lunar year lags behind by about 11 days each year compared to the solar year. Therefore, every two or three years a leap year is instituted (with an added full month), to make up for lost time (so that each festival occurs at its proper time: Pesach — in the spring month; Sukkot — in the autumn harvest month; etc.).

One of the lessons from a leap year is that Torah has given Jews the power to master time; and although generally a person cannot control past time, a Jew has the ability to make up what was missed. Even more so, it is possible to create a "reserve" for the future, as indicated by a leap year.

And in this very month — which is doubled in a leap year — we celebrate Purim. As our Sages of blessed memory recount, Haman's evil decree was nullified at that moment when Mordechai HaTzaddik gathered together Jewish children and awakened within them a spirit of mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) for Torah-true Judaism. In doing so they made up for what had previously been lacking in pure Torah education, which brought about the miracle of VeNahafoch Hu (it was turned around) and — LaYehudim Hayta Orah v'Simcha v'Sasson v'Yikar ("For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor").

When Purim falls in a leap year, as this year, these two points come together and are especially emphasized: The vital necessity of Torah-true education for our people's survival, and the ability given to us not only to fulfill what was missed but also to create a "reserve" for the future.

I hope that this year's annual gathering will fully express all of the above-mentioned ideas, and that the merit of spreading Torah and mitzvos will stand by each one — among all Israel — to enjoy in fullest measure LaYehudim Hayta Orah v'Simcha v'Sasson v'Yikar (for the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor) — with all its interpretations.

With honor and blessing for success and good tidings.

Summary

This letter teaches that through Torah guidance we can not only repair past shortcomings but also proactively prepare spiritually for future challenges. A leap year highlights our unique power over time when dedicated to Torah education and communal unity.