Excerpts from the Rebbe’s First Chassidic Discourse

The sages state that “all sevenths are cherished.” This is the reason, they explain, why Moses was the one who merited to bring G-d’s Presence into this world—because he was the seventh from Abraham.

The fact that the seventh is cherished indicates the greatness of the first. What was the unique quality of Abraham? Abraham served G-d with self-sacrifice. “He called out in the Name of G-d, Master of the world”—the sages explain: not “he called out,” but rather “he brought others to call out.”

This self-sacrifice is expected from each of us in the seventh generation. Even if one feels no spiritual strengths within himself, he is nevertheless told: It is not by your own choice that you are the seventh generation—you have the strength by the very fact that you are the seventh. You must realize how cherished you are, and how much has been invested in you. You will then fulfill your part in the mission to draw G-d’s essence into this material world . . .