9768 —חינוך יהודי, צמיחת ישיבה, ויסוד על טבעי של חינוך

B"H, First day of Vayeira, 5730.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

To all participants in the annual dinner of Yeshivas Achei Tmimim in Newark, may Hashem be upon you and grant you life—greetings and blessings!

It is customary among Jews to connect the events of the week with the weekly Torah portion and to derive from it true directives from our Torah (from the word "hora'ah"), the Torah of truth. Today's parsha tells us how the birth and upbringing of the first Jewish child born to Jewish parents occurred—Yitzchak, son of Avraham and Sarah, the first ancestors of the Jewish people.

Yitzchak's birth was supernatural and miraculous. His bris took place when he was eight days old, and his upbringing was carried out with difficulties and challenges. This was entirely different from Avraham's son Yishmael, whose birth was natural and who was circumcised at thirteen years old—that is, when he already had understanding.

And Hashem assured Avraham that specifically Yitzchak would be his true heir (ki veYitzchak yikarei lecha zera—"for through Yitzchak will your offspring be called") and that through him the Jewish people would be established.

With this, the Torah teaches us that when establishing Jewish generations and a Jewish future, one cannot approach it with a natural approach or human intellect and calculations. Jewish existence does not depend on natural laws but on Divine conduct.

This is likewise the foundation of Jewish chinuch—not based on natural calculations as with other nations. We do not wait until a Jewish child becomes mature enough to understand how to behave or come to Judaism on their own. Rather, we give them a full and strong Jewish education from their earliest youth onward.

In this way we ensure that their bond with Hashem will be strong and eternal (bris olam), overcoming all difficulties and challenges, enjoying all G‑dly blessings both materially and spiritually.

This is also the approach and method of Yeshivas Achei Tmimim in Newark, which this year has reached its bar mitzvah. This means that the institution has matured and must now begin to ascend in every way—just as reaching bar mitzvah age is not an end but rather a beginning to rise ever higher.

I greet the administration of the yeshiva, its distinguished guests and participants, and all friends who have had the great merit to support and expand this yeshiva. Surely everyone will further increase their participation, and Hashem will increase His blessings to each one both materially and spiritually together.

With honor and blessing for success and good tidings,
M. Schneersohn

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that authentic Jewish education begins from earliest childhood based on Divine guidance rather than human logic. Supporting institutions like Achei Tmimim ensures strong spiritual foundations for future generations.