By Grace of G‑d
3rd day of Weekly Sidra Lech Lecho, 5728
Brooklyn, N.Y.

To All Participants in the Annual Dinner of the Yeshiva "Achei Tmimim" in Newark, NJ

Greeting and Blessing:

I send greetings to all participants in the Annual Dinner, together with prayerful wishes for utmost success.

In accordance with the well-known saying of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch, that "a Jew should live in the spirit of the time" — meaning the current weekly Sidra, it is to be hoped that the Dinner taking place this week will be animated and inspired by the content and spirit of this week's Sidra — the Sidra which begins the history of our Father Abraham, the first Jew and father of our people.

One of the first experiences of our Father Abraham was to learn that "thy children shall be strangers in a land not theirs." However, together with this came the everlasting covenant between G‑d and Abraham assuring this survival of our people at all times and under all circumstance. This eternal quality of our people was coupled with the condition that our children would be brought up in the way of G‑d and would maintain this bond with G‑d from birth on; a bond which is not only impressed in the soul but also sealed in the flesh, dedicating body and soul to G‑d.

Our Sages say that "the experience of the fathers is a guide for the children." What happened to our Patriarchs reflected events that would repeat themselves in the history of our people, both of the individual and of the nation as a whole. The eternity of our Jewish people is bound up with the upbringing of our children, and the upbringing of each child is vitally connected not only with the child's own future, but also with the future of our people as a whole.

Herein lies the significance of Torah-true education in general, and of the Yeshiva "Achei Tmimim" in particular. It clearly emphasizes the responsibility — and privilege — of parents and of communal workers and laymen to strengthen and expand the sacred educational institution of the Yeshiva "Achei Tmimim".

May the Almighty bless each and every one or you individually and collectively, with Hatzlocho in the fullest measure.

With esteem and with blessing for Hatzlocho and good tidings,