The text of this letter was sent to various individuals, personally addressed to each one. 1

B”H
The Third Day of Selichos, 5710
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings and Blessings,

With this letter, the kuntreis for the coming Rosh HaShanah is [also] being sent to you. Certainly you will share it with all of those in your surroundings. It would be good if you would study it communally, because at all times our Sages elaborated on the positive advantages of not studying alone. 2 How much more so does this apply during the days preceding Rosh HaShanah, on Rosh HaShanah, and during the Ten Days of Teshuvah when there is a unique, positive quality in friends cleaving together!

[It is] explained in the teachings of Chassidus, 3 on the verse: 4 “You are all standing today,” [the beginning of] the Torah reading that is always read before Rosh HaShanah — this is alluded to by the word hayom, which refers to Rosh HaShanah 5 —[that] at this time, all of the sparks of the souls stand upright and ascend to their source before G‑d. 6 [A spiritual ascent of this nature] mandates the approach of “all together,” that they all gather together unified as one,3 [including] “Your heads, [the leaders of your tribes],” until [even] “your water carriers.” 7

My revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, concludes 8 that he heard from his revered father, who had received the tradition from Rebbe to Rebbe, that when the Alter Rebbe was in Mezritch, his teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch, revealed to him who he was... and that his Divine service involves revealing and explaining the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov concerning the love for G‑d and the love for one’s fellow Jew, and revealing the path of Chabad Chassidus. And, of primary importance, our teacher, the Maggid, conveyed to him in the name of the Baal Shem Tov the path in Divine service which involves drawing simple people close. For we must love a Jew for the very reason that he is a Jew.

Explanation can be added to the above: 9 The Baal Shem Tov revealed the concept of the connection between the love for G‑d, the love for the Torah, and the love for one’s fellow Jew. The Maggid of Mezritch revealed the intellectual underpinning and the understanding of the connection between these three loves and the inner meaning of the three [types of love for G‑d mentioned in the Torah]: 10 loving [Him] “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” The Alter Rebbe revealed how everyone can, should, and must bring these three loves to actual expression, saying that ahavas Yisrael is the gate [enabling] the ascent [of the totality of one’s Divine service to a higher plane]. On this gate is written with shining letters: “This is the gate for ascent.”

Through the fact that we are standing all as one, G‑d our L‑rd maintains us today, on this day of Rosh HaShanah. We will be His nation and He will be our G‑d. He will shine forth eternal light for us in the true and ultimate Redemption, speedily, in our days.

From one who blesses you and seeks your blessing — that we all be inscribed and sealed for a good year,

M. Schneerson

* * *

Regarding what you wrote in your letter concerning yourself and your shortcomings, etc. While reading your letter, I recalled what my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, once told me with regard to another story: “One may not speak lashon hara 11 even about oneself.”

Awaiting good and happy tidings.

* * *

In your 12 letter from 8 Elul, you complain that I did not answer your questions. However, you did not ask me anything. You merely sent a pan to be read at the gravesite. I fulfilled your request as could be understood.

If it is not so appropriate to instruct the younger students in the teachings of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, every day, you can do so several days a week instead.