10693 —לקחים מעיבור השנה ומילוי חסרונות רוחניים

B"H, Eve of Rosh Chodesh Adar I, 5733.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With pleasure I acknowledge receipt of Kovetz No. 7 (for the month of Shevat), and thank you for your attention in sending it to me.

Since everything is by Divine Providence and the journal was received after we blessed the month of Adar I, this is an appropriate time to reflect on the lesson we can learn from the concept of a leap year as it applies practically in daily life.

As is known, the concept of a leap year is that we count according to the moon, and the lunar year is lacking compared to the solar year. It is necessary to fill this lack so that the festivals fall in their proper seasons—Pesach in the month of spring, Sukkot at harvest time, etc.—therefore, we fill the deficiency of the lunar year relative to the solar year by occasionally adding a month in a leap year. Through this addition, not only do we fill what was lacking, but we actually add even more.

The lesson from this is twofold: (a) One can and must always correct deficiencies from the past; (b) It is not enough just to fix what was missing—one should also add extra effort as an advance for the future.

Certainly anyone who reflects and makes an honest reckoning about their past will find that even if their past generally gives satisfaction, with a bit more effort they surely could have achieved more—and all the more so if for any reason things were not as they should have been. But one should not despair and say "the past is gone and lost—enough about what has been," but rather strive to fill what was lacking and even add extra effort as an advance for what lies ahead. The analogy is clear.

May it be G‑d's will that everyone does their part to fill any deficiency in the moon so that there remains no lack at all; on the contrary—as above.

Our Sages have taught: "Nothing stands in the way of will."

With blessings for success in all of the above and for good news,

M. Schneersohn

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that just as a leap year fills what is lacking in time by adding an extra month, so too can we always repair our spiritual shortcomings—and even go beyond by adding positive actions for the future. We must never despair over past deficiencies but use them as motivation for growth.