Camp: To Kindle a Young Jewish Soul
A message to supporters of Camp Gan Israel | The kindling of every Jewish Soul is a duty that is upon all of us, and is accomplished through support the Camp
By the Grace of G-d
1st day of the week of Behaalos'cho, 5729
Brooklyn, N.Y.
To all participants in the Testimonial Dinner of Camp Gan Israel, Montreal, Canada, G-d bless you all - Greeting and Blessing:
It is both relevant and significant that the event is taking place in the week of Bhaalos'cho ("When you shall kindle the lights"). For, while the essential thing of a Mitzvah is its fulfilment, every Mitzvah has a wide range of important and lasting instructions relevant to the daily life. This is particularly the case with the Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah.
As our Sages have pointed out, and as has been further explained and illuminated by the Alter Rebbe, founder of Chabad-Lubavitch, the Mitzvah of Bhaalos'cho es haneros contains a reference to the kindling of the Jewish soul, since "a candle of G-d is the soul of man."
We are thus reminded of our obligation to help kindle every Jewish soul with the light of Torah and Mitzvoth - "for a Mitzvah is a lamp, and the Torah is light," - until each soul is fully illuminated and illuminates all its surroundings.
To be sure, the Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah in the Beth Hamikdosh was given to the Kohanim. However, we have just been reminded - in this very month of Mattan Torah - that all Jews are a "Kingdom of Kohanim." Each and every Jew is in many aspects a "kohen," dedicated to G-d, with duties and obligations which are in a real sense akin to those of Kohanim.
Camp Gan Israel is where young Jewish souls are truly kindled with the light of Torah and Mitzvoth. It offers an opportunity all its friends to have a share in this great cause, and thereby also brighten their own Jewish souls with an additional measure of the light of Torah and Mitzvoth.
May G-d bless each and every one of you in this most important endeavor, as well as in all your needs, materially and spiritually
With esteem and with blessing for happy tidings,
M. Schneerson
