B.H.
4th of Adar, 5723
Brooklyn, N.Y.
[February 28, 1963]

Sholom uBrocho:

I am in receipt of your letter, in which you write about your forthcoming birthday on the 7th of Adar, for long and happy life.

Since you have reached the age of “good counsel”, as the Mishnah says (אבות פ"ה) בן חמשים לעצה, may it usher in a new period of successful leadership in both your private, as well as public, affairs, and may G‑d grant that together with your wife you should enjoy good health and affluence and true Yiddish- Chassidish Nachas from children and offspring.

Enclosed is a copy of a letter connected with the 7th of Adar, the birthday of Moshe Rabbenu, which should be of especial interest to Mrs. Jaffe and Miss Jaffe, and thank you for con­veying it to them.

Again, may your birthday inaugurate an auspicious year, followed by many, many more happy years, materially and spiritually,

With blessing,

M. Schneerson

Regarding your writing about the plans for the new Shul and the property acquired for that purpose, and plans for disposing of the old Shul, I am sure that with regard to letting or selling the old Shul you will consult a Rov and act accordingly, since there are specific Dinim in such a case. As for the new Shul, I do not see what doubts there may be, and may you proceed and materialize it successfully, especially, as mentioned above, that you have reached the age of “good counsel.” You will also recall that we have mentioned in our conversation that the time is ripe for spreading out synagogues and institutions al-taharas-hakodesh. You are indeed privileged to head such an important undertaking in your community.

Translation

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B”H.
Second day of Rosh Chodesh Adar, 5723
Brooklyn, N.Y.
[February 25, 1963]

To the annual dinner
of the Beth Rivkah Girls School
in Montreal
May G‑d be with them

Shalom uBrocha!

With pleasure I received the notification that the Beth Rivkah annual banquet will take place, G‑d willing, on the seventh day of Adar.

As is known, the seventh of Adar is the birthday of Moses our Teacher. This immediately brings to mind that Moses’ birth, rescue and education was thanks to two women, a mother and her daughter: Yocheved and Miriam, Moses’ mother and sister. At a time when Pharaoh’s decrees reached a most critical stage and brought feelings of hopelessness and helplessness even amongst leading Jewish families, these two women – one of them a mother and the other still a very young girl – carried on with their selfless work to build a new generation of Jews, the generation of the Redemption. In the most difficult times of the exile in Egypt, they not only inspired the other women, but also the men, and they succeeded in seeing to it that that the redeemer, and the redemption of the Jewish people from the exile of Egypt, would come about through their efforts.

In our times, especially in the recent generations of the present difficult exile, Jewish women – mothers and daughters – have the same mission, responsibility and privilege as the Jewish women of that first exile. My father in law, the Rebbe, often stressed this, both verbally and in writing.

This year marks 150 years since the passing of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch, founder of the Chabad philosophy and lifestyle. We must remember with special enthusiasm the great influence the Rebbetzin Rivkah had upon her son, the Alter Rebbe, as is recorded in the memoirs of my father in law, the Rebbe.

I hope, with deep inner feelings of hope that the pupils of Beth Rivkah will always remember and properly value their great responsibility and privilege in continuing the sacred traditions of the Jewish woman. Not only at home where the woman is the Akeres Habayis, the foundation of the home; but also through energetic activity in wider women’s circles, to help build a faithful Jewish generation which will merit to see the complete Redemption, speedily in our times.

With the same deep hope, I wish that the supporters, activists and friends of Beth Rivkah will expend every effort – in time, money and energy – to give the fullest opportunity for the Beth Rivkah school to develop and grow according to the urgent needs of our times.

May G‑d Almighty grant you all success together, and each one of you individually, to be successful in all of the abovementioned matters and in all your needs, materially and spiritually, together.

With respect and blessings for success and good tidings,

/Signature/