FREE RENDITION
By the Grace of G-d
5th of Menachem Av, 5725.
Brooklyn, N. Y.
To All Participants in the Dedication of The Anna Lazaroff Synagogue in Kfar Chabad
G-d bless you all
Greeting and Blessing:
This is to convey my congratulations and prayerful wishes to all participants in the Dedication, particularly to the Lazaroff family and all friends, through whose generosity and efforts this beautiful synagogue came into being.
Although this letter is written during the “Nine Days,” recalling the sad events of the Destruction of the Beth Hamikdosh, I share in the joy of this occasion even as I write this letter. For, though tragic are the historic events recalled at this time, they are essentially blessings in disguise. Indeed, all corrective and disciplinary measures of the Torah are part of “Torath Chessed” (a Torah of pure benevolence). Thus, these days remind us that “because of our sins we have been exiled from our land,” but the purpose of the exile is not just to inflict punishment upon us, G-d forbid, but rather to serve as a means of our spiritual rejuvenation. By correcting our mistakes and faults of the past, through a renewed and strengthened adherence to the Torah and Mitzvoth in our daily life, we will not only be restored to our former position, but we will greatly enhance it by turning retreat into advance, failure into achievement, sadness into a double measure of gladness.
The Dedication of the Synagogue, taking place in the week of Shabbos Nachamu, is symbolic and significant, as it is timely. Our Sages call a synagogue a “Minor Sanctuary” — the miniature counterpart of the Sanctuary of Old, the Beth Hamikdosh. Like the Beth Hamikdosh, which was not only the hallowed place of worship, but also the center of Torah, being the seat of the Sanhedrin (supreme Torah authority), so will this synagogue serve not only as a house of worship but also a house of daily Torah study. Again, in the Beth Hamikdosh, though the wood and stones made up the magnificent physical structure, its essential aspect was not its external magnificence but rather the spirit of dedication which animated the Jews, men and women, who helped to build this Sanctuary, joined by the spirit of love and reverence which permeated the sacred services in the Beth Hamikdosh. Similarly, this “Minor Sanctuary” was erected through the spirit of devotion and dedication which animated the generous donors and friends, and this spirit will be continued and heightened by the devotion of the worshippers and the dedication of the students who will pray and study in this synagogue, and fill it to overflowing with sublime holiness and the glowing light of Torah and Mitzvoth.
May G-d bestow His generous blessings upon all who have a share in this beautiful synagogue.
May this great and worthy achievement, to which the synagogue will eloquently bear witness, inspire everyone to further and greater accomplishments in behalf of the sacred institutions of Kfar Chabad, and in the cause of strengthening Torah Judaism in general. These efforts will surely hasten the day of the complete Geuloh and the rebuilding of the Beth Hamikdosh through our righteous Moshiach; may he come speedily in our days.
With blessing.
Signed /Menachem Schneerson/
Source: Photocopy of the original.
Although this letter is presented as a Free Rendition, official translations typed on the Rebbe’s letterhead were edited by the Rebbe. The Hebrew version of this letter with minor variations is printed in Igros Kodesh, Vol. 23, letter 9012.
Megillah 29a.
