9325 —אחדות ותפקיד מרכזי של נשים בקבלת התורה ובהקהל

B"H, Eve of Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5727.

Brooklyn, NY.

To those participating in the annual luncheon of the NY Committee for the Seminar for Teachers and Girls' Schools in Kfar Chabad in our holy land, may it be rebuilt and established speedily in our days—may they live.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

The annual luncheon, which this year takes place on Tuesday, Sivan 3rd, just a few days before the festival of Matan Torah, and in a year of Hakhel, will surely be marked by both these themes: preparation for receiving the Torah and the significance of Hakhel.

Both at Kabbalas HaTorah (every year) and at Hakhel (once every seven years), we find in Torah two main common features: First, in both cases there was an expression of unity and unification among the Jewish people. At Matan Torah—"Vayichan sham Yisrael" (they camped there as one)—the Jewish people were gathered at Mount Sinai, as Rashi notes from Mechilta: "as one person with one heart." All Jews—men, women, and children—were united with a single thought to accept the Torah and mitzvos. And at Hakhel, the Torah says: "Hakhel es ha'am ha'anashim v'hanashim v'hataf" (gather together the people: men, women, and children), also with the purpose "lema'an yishme'u u'lema'an yilmedu... v'shamru la'asos es kol divrei haTorah hazos" (so that they will hear and so that they will learn... and observe to do all the words of this Torah)—to hear, to learn... to keep and do all mitzvos of the Torah.

Second, both instances emphasize the central role of Jewish women: At Matan Torah—"Ko somar l'veis Yaakov" (thus you shall say to the house of Jacob)—these are the women; at Hakhel—men, women, and children. The unity among Jews with each other—and between Jews and Hashem—is possible only because Jews—all Jews without exception—have a G‑dly soul, a "chelek Eloka mima'al mamash," and because Torah and mitzvos—actual G‑dliness—unite Jews with Hashem. In this unity and connection, Jewish women occupy a central place.

Therefore this year's event—a few days before Kabbalas HaTorah and during a year of Hakhel—should be especially imbued with these two themes. Especially since your committee's work is to strengthen and expand educational institutions in Kfar Chabad in our holy land—which are engaged in educating future educators and builders of our people.

May Hashem grant success to your work ever more so; may this merit stand by all of you—with your families—to be blessed by Hashem in all that is needed materially and spiritually.

Blessings for success and good news.

Summary

This letter highlights how unity among Jews—and especially women's central role—is essential for receiving Torah blessings. The Rebbe encourages strengthening education as a foundation for communal growth during times marked by Kabbalas HaTorah and Hakhel.