By the Grace of G‑d
1st day of the week of
Nitzovim, 5734

To All Participants in the Annual Dinner
Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim of Morristown
Branch of the United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth

G‑d Bless you all,

Greeting and Blessing:

This Year’s Distinguished Award Dinner is taking place at year’s end, just days before Rosh Hashanah. This is the time when Jews draw a balance sheet to evaluate the achievements, as well as failures, of the outgoing year, with a view to starting the new year on a better course – not only to avoid repetition of past failures, but also to make up for past deficiencies and missed opportunities.

Needless to say, such an evaluation must be an honest one, for it is a matter of great personal concern.

Actually, the area of personal concern is not limited to one’s own personal affairs. For the wellbeing of the community, indeed the wellbeing of our people as a whole, are also very much the personal concern of every individual, especially since the entire Jewish people is like one body, where every part is organically linked with every other.

This is pointedly emphasized in the first verse of this week’s Sidrah: “You are standing firm this day, all of you together: the heads of your tribe.. from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water.” Observes the Alter Rebbe, Founder of Chabad: “All of you together – as one person.” Though enumerated in this verse are Jews from all walks of life, with varied interests and concerns, yet all are united as one “before the One G‑d, your G‑d.” The Torah, Toras Emes (Law of Truth) testifies to this unity, hence this is not just a phrase, but the actual truth.

The above is particularly pertinent to a gathering in the cause of this Torah institution, which exemplifies Torah education at its best, namely, where the students are given the opportunity not merely to acquire knowledge, but, what is even more important, to forge their character in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Torah. The advancement of such an institution is certainly the concern of every member of the community, for each and every student, upon graduation, will constitute a positive force, not only in his personal life and family, but also in his community, and, indeed, will make a positive contribution to our people as a whole.

I am confident, therefore, that all participants in this auspicious event, and through them also those whom they can inspire by precept and example, will make every effort to give this outstanding institution all the help it needs, financially and otherwise.

This will also bring a generous measure of Divine blessings to each and all of you and yours, including a happy and prosperous New Year, materially and spiritually.

With blessing for כתיבה וחתימה טובה
לשנה טובה ומתוקה

To be inscribed unto a good and sweet year
M Schneerson