10687 —מלוה מלכה שנתית, שמיטה, ותפקיד גמילות חסדים

B"H, Tuesday, in which "ki tov" is doubled—goodness and blessing! Parshas Im Kesef Talveh Es Ami, Shemitah year, 5733. Brooklyn, NY.

To the administration of the Shomrei Shabbos Gemilas Chasadim Society—may Hashem be upon them for life—greetings and blessings!

With pleasure I received your letter bearing good news that preparations are underway to arrange the annual Melaveh Malkah for the benefit of the Gemach on Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim—may it be with success—and especially this year, which is the seventh year about which it is said: "Shabbos Shabbason yihiyeh la’aretz Shabbos laHashem" ("It shall be a complete rest for the land, a Sabbath for Hashem"), and particularly fitting due to this Shemitah year's unique occurrences—Rosh Hashanah falling on Shabbos, as well as Rosh Hashanah for Maaser Behemah (animal tithes), the yahrzeit-hilulah of our generation's Nasi (the Previous Rebbe), and more.

For Shabbos itself emphasizes the matter of Gemach—as our Sages say regarding Shabbos: "Borrow on Me and I will repay," and Shabbos itself is a doer of kindness (chesed)—it has nothing of its own to give to others; as known from our Sages' explanation that on Shabbos the sun gives charity to the poor. This is also alluded to in our Torah's command: "Six days you shall labor and do all your work," yet a person cannot finish all his work in one week; rather, one should see each Shabbos as if all his work is done (during those six days).

The assembly's decision should be to expand Gemach activities and fulfill these resolutions with abundance and delight—the activities of Gemach being from one extreme to another (whether with one's money or even with wealthy individuals), following the commandment to walk in His ways: "And Your righteousness O G‑d reaches to high heaven...and from the depths of the earth..." And great is tzedakah (especially at its highest level—Gemach), for it brings redemption; about our redemption it says: "In returning and tranquility you shall be saved."

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

P.S. My participation is included.
Regarding Shemitah: Note that even during Shemitah all forms of Gemach apply—see Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken at end of Hilchos Halva’ah.
Good news: Double—for Heaven and for people (Kiddushin 40a; see Rambam Pe’ah 1:1). Additionally, every gathering concerning Tomchei Temimim brings double benefit—to those gathered and to the world (Sanhedrin 71b).
Mishpatim: See Torah Or Beshalach 63b regarding how human justice and charity cause justice and charity Above.
Shabbos...laHashem: Behar 25:4.
Yihiyeh la’aretz: See Torah Or at its beginning.
Rosh Hashanah for Maaser Behemah: See letter from Previous Rebbe printed in Hayom Yom at its start.
Shabbos...Gemach: See Zohar II Beshalach 63a; Likkutei Levi Yitzchak there.
Amar...Pore’a: Beitzah 15b; see also Or HaTorah by Admor Hazaken near its end (114c).
Chesed...klum): Igros Kodesh VI.
As known from their explanation: Likkutei Torah Devarim V’hayah Midai Chodesh; Siddur Admor Hazaken there with commentary.
Ohr Hatorah LeTzemach Tzedek Malachi III:20; D’varim Teretz Tov.
The sun...to poor people: Ta’anis 8b.
Six days...done: Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken Orach Chaim siman 242 seif 21; see also Rashi on Yisro (20:9). Note that in Semak siman 80 there is no word “as if.”
In one week: As in first printing of Shulchan Aruch Admor Hazaken. In other printings I have seen it says “in one week”—and apparently so in Semak, Tur etc.
Done (in six days): According to this—a spiritual action of Shabbos during preceding six days. See Keter Shem Tov II regarding this matter (59b).
Expand...delight: See Gittin 56b. It says “and you shall call Shabbos delight.” See Pnei Yehoshua on laws of Shabbos ch.21.
Whether with money...to wealthy people: Sukkah 49b.
Following His ways: Sotah 14a.
And Your righteousness...earth: Tehillim 71:19-20.
Great is tzedakah: Bava Basra 10a.
At its highest level: Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah siman 249 seif 6.
In returning and tranquility...saved: See Yerushalmi Ta’anis ch.1 end halacha 1; Shabbos 26b says “in returning etc.” And Vayikra Rabbah ch.23 says Israel will only be redeemed through merit of Shabbos as it says “in returning etc.” See also Hemshech Vekacha at its end.

Summary

This letter highlights how acts of kindness through Gemilas Chasadim are especially meaningful during Shemitah and when connected with communal gatherings like Melaveh Malkah. The Rebbe teaches that expanding such activities brings both material blessing and spiritual redemption.