This letter was addressed to R. Benyamin Abu, an active member of the Jewish community in Midlet, Morocco who was in contact with R. Michael Lipsker, the Rebbe’s shaliach there.1

B”H, 5 Cheshvan, 5711,
Brooklyn

Greetings and blessings,

With pleasure, I received notification from our representative, the communal leader, Rabbi Michael Lipsker, concerning your dedicated work on behalf of the education of Jewish children in general and, in particular, the support of the Talmud Torah in Midlet.

As per his request, I mentioned you at the gravesite of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, for blessing and success in all of your needs and those of your household. Certainly the sublime tzaddik will entreat on your behalf Above so that you and your household will be blessed with all forms of material and spiritual good and you will not know from pain, damage, and sorrow, Heaven forbid, and that only good and kindness will find you continually, at all times.

In several sources, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, הכ"מ, explained our Sages’ statement:2 “The reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah”; [i.e.,] that the greatest reward for the observance of a mitzvah is the very fact that the opportunity was given to a Jew to carry out the commandments of the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. It is, however, obvious and clear that, as an adjunct to this great reward, he is granted the reward for a mitzvah in material and spiritual matters.

If this is true of all mitzvos, it is particularly true with regard to those mitzvos which are “good to the heavens and good to the created beings”3 and, particularly for the mitzvah of Torah study, which is equivalent to all the mitzvos.4 How much more so does this apply to Torah study that is connected to the mitzvah of educating Jewish children which includes all the following positive qualities: Torah study, bringing Jewish children to the life of the World to Come (through teaching G‑d’s Torah), and bringing them to life in this world (through teaching good and upright conduct, positive character traits, deeds of kindness, charity, etc.). [These are deeds] whose fruits a person benefits from in this world, and yet the principal remains for him in the World to Come.5 The vast nature of these rewards can be understood from our Sages’ story6 concerning Nebuchadnetzar who took three steps for the sake of G‑d’s honor and had sovereignty granted to him and his descendants for three generations. How much more so [does this apply] to Jews who work with their souls, their bodies, and their resources for the sake of G‑d’s honor in the education of Jewish children. G‑d will grant an abundance of material and spiritual good to them and to their families.

I am certain that you will continue to reinforce your work in strengthening and expanding the Talmud Torah in your city and that you will be able to share good tidings of your positive activities in this regard and of the fruits of these activities, and also good news with regard to your personal affairs.

[From] one who blesses you and your entire household in material and spiritual matters,

Menachem Schneerson