In the Face of Danger
In the recent days of Yud Beis-Yud Gimmel (12-13 Tammuz), celebrating the liberation of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of blessed memory, from Soviet prison, we remember his tremendous fight to establish and preserve Jewish infrastructure. The Avner Institute presents two inspiring letters where the Rebbe exalts the far-reaching legacy of his father-in-law, who literally risked his life for education of children, our guarantors of Torah belief and continuity.
Dedicated in memory of loving memory of Hadassah Lebovic A”h
“To realize the full potential”
By the Grace of G-d
15th of Tammuz, 5731
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. . . .
London, England
Greeting and Blessing:
I trust you had an inspiring 12-13th of Tammuz, the history and significance of which you surely know. As I have often mentioned it before, the important thing of observing a special day in our calendar, is not simply for the sake of remembrance of an event in the past, but that this remembrance should serve as a source of inspiration and stimulus for positive action in the present and future.
One of the significant aspects of the 12-13th of Tammuz, recalling the imprisonment and liberation of my father-in-law of saintly memory in those crucial days of the Soviet regime, is the nature of his activities which had brought about that crisis. For, my father-in-law of saintly memory had been very actively engaged in a variety of activities to preserve Yiddishkeit even under that hostile regime. These included the placement and financial support of Rabbonim, shochtim, mohalim [kosher slaughterers, circumcisers], teachers, etc., and the maintenance of houses of prayer, chadorim [elementary schools], yeshivoth on both elementary and advanced levels.
While all these activities were characterized by the same dedication and spirit of selflessness for the preservation and spreading of Yiddishkeit, going against the tide and in defiance of a brutal regime, and especially the militantly anti-religious Jewish section of the Communist party, etc., the main weight of this general activity was in the educational area, namely establishment and maintenance of clandestine chadorim, Talmud Torahs and yeshivoth. For, however vital all the other activities were, such as providing a Rav and a Shochet and a Mikvah, etc., the most important and far-reaching activity was the chinuch [education] of the Jewish children, since the children are the foundation of the whole future of our people, and also the basis for all religious and spiritual activity devoted to the adults. As our Sages put it succinctly (in keeping with their way of expressing profound ideas in a few iconic words): “If there are no little lambs, there are no big rams.”
Nowadays where chinuch is concerned, it is not enough to provide the facilities for Jewish children to acquire the knowledge of Torah and the Jewish way of life. In this day and age, the important thing is to inculcate into the children the proper Torah spirit and develop their true Jewish character, so that they should be able to face the world, even if they are a small minority, and should not fall prey to the various new ideas and ideologies which are so contrary to the spirit of Torah and Judaism. For this reason it is necessary to get the Jewish children at their earliest age, in order to enable the Jewish boy and girl to realize the full potential of his or her Jewish neshamah [soul]. This is also what makes the elementary Jewish school so important nowadays, because it is there that the child’s character is primarily molded.
Strong Action
In this connection, I want to recall one particularly meaningful episode connected with the anniversary of the 12-13th of Tammuz, since it was one of the factors which aggravated the position of my father-in-law of saintly memory and precipitated the investigation and arrest. I refer to a public discourse which he gave on the Purim before his imprisonment, based on the text: “מפי עוללים ויונקים יסדת עוז למען צורריך להשבית אויב ומתנקם — “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, You established strength because of (in answer to) Your enemies, in order to silence the enemy and
Avenger” (Psalms 8:3). He explained on that occasion, and in the published discourse which appeared already after his liberation, the vital importance of Torah-true chinuch which must begin at the earliest age, and this is the way to overcome and silence our enemies, not only the enemies of Yiddishkeit, but also the enemies of the Jewish people. Actually, the two are closely interlocked, inasmuch as the destiny of our people is essentially bound up with Yiddishkeit, as Rav Saadia Gaon
expressed it, “Our people is a people only by virtue of the Torah” (Beliefs and Opinions 3:7).
In the nature of things, G-d has so created man that he should advance from the elementary to the advanced and from the simple to the complex. However, even at the lowest and most elementary level it is necessary to act with strength, as indicated in the verse above, that is to say to give them of the Torah and Torah spirit the maximum they can absorb, and then we can be sure of the fulfillment of the promise of our Sages, “Try hard and you will succeed,” for such all-out effort on the part of man is certain to bring forth the utmost help from On High in a most wonderful way.
This is one more meaningful lesson of the 12-13th Tammuz anniversary, which not only led to the wonderful triumph of my father-in-law of saintly memory over his adversaries, but also ensured the extraordinary success of his work. For even now half a century later, we see the fruits and the fruits of fruits of his labors, in the hundreds of Jewish families coming out from the Soviet golus [exile], with their children and grandchildren proudly bearing the banner of Torah Yiddishkeit and Chasidus, and whose dedication to the Torah and Mitzvoth in their daily life is a source of inspiration even in the Holy Land.
Once again, wishing you and all your co-workers the utmost hatzlocho to follow in the footsteps of my father-in-law of saintly memory, and this will surely broaden the channel to receive G-d’s blessings in the utmost measure, materially as well as spiritually.
With blessing,
[signature]
“Importance of this institution”
By the Grace of G-d
20th of Sivan, 5743
Brooklyn, N. Y.
To All Participants in the Dedication of the
New Modern Community Mikveh of
West Bloomfield, MI
Greeting and Blessing:
I was pleased to be informed of the forthcoming celebration of the dedication of the new Mikveh.
Having reached this goal, it is in itself eloquent testimony that you and the community at large appreciate the importance of this institution. Therefore, there is no need for me to enlarge upon it. However, in light of the saying of our Sages, “Encourage the energetic,” as well as in view of the vital importance of achieving the next goal, namely, that the Mikveh should be made the fullest use of, a few remarks will be in order.
It is significant that the Dedication ceremony is taking place on the 8th day of Tammuz, just several days before the 56th anniversary of the liberation of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of saintly memory, on the 12-13th of Tammuz. I trust most of you know that it was because of his complete and total dedication to the preservation of Yiddishkeit in the country of his birth, that my father-in-law was arrested and was in great peril of his life, but miraculously was saved and released and permitted to leave that country.
Of course, since taharas hamishpocho is one of the basic mitzvoth which is connected with the purity and sanctity of Jewish family life and the whole future of our Jewish people, my father-in-law was determined to do all that was possible – and even seemed impossible—to preserve taharas hamishpocho even under those difficult circumstances. Disregarding all dangers, he and his faithful followers were tirelessly active in reopening Mikvehs that had been shut down by the regime, and to establish and maintain new Mikvehs, and generally to spread the awareness and practice of taharas hamishpocho wherever their influence could reach.
Great Determination
From the above, it is easy to realize that surely no less should be the determination and involvement in taharas hamishpocho by Jews who are blessed to live in a country where there is freedom of religion and where building a Mikveh and making use of it do not entail any dangers.
Accordingly, I am confident that each and every one of you will continue your efforts to increase awareness and practice of taharas hamishpocho among all segments of Jews in your region.
It is impossible to overstate the great zechus [merit] of this great mitzvah. If every mitzvah is a channel to receive G-d’s blessings, how much more so a mitvah which has an impact on the parents who practice it on their children and children’s children to the end of posterity.
Wishing each and all of you hatzlocho in these efforts, and in all your personal affairs,
With blessing,
M. Schneerson
To Receive to your inbox email: [email protected]
