Parshas Nitzavim refers to Rosh Hashanah; unity is a requirement for accepting G-d’s sovereignty on Rosh Hashanah
By the Grace of G-d
25 Elul, 5708
Sept. 29, 1948
My Dear Mr. Lesser:
On behalf of the Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, and in my own name, I send you and Mrs. Lesser our sincere good wishes for a very happy New Year, a year of good health and success, and the fulfillment of your heart’s desires, materially and spiritually.
It is my custom to insert a word of Torah in my personal letters. I trust the following will interest you:
On the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana we invariably read the Sidrah Nitzavim. This is significant. Indeed, we have it on good authority that the opening verse of the Sidrah: “You are standing this day all of you before the L-rd your G-d...” refers to Rosh Hashanah (“this day”).
When Jews assemble before G-d on Rosh Hashanah to proclaim and accept His sovereignty, there must be “all of you,” complete unity.
The text indicates another requirement of this solemn occasion: “All of you” standing before the L-rd your G-d must do so in a spirit of complete submission, and the submission of “your heads” must be on par with the submission of the “hewer of thy wood” and the “drawer of thy water” (see text). The proudest and humblest are alike before G-d; all must accept His sovereignty with equal submission and resignation.
References
Devarim 29:9-10.
See Likkutei Torah ibid.
Paaneiach Raza beginning of Parshas Nitzavim; Likkutei Torah (44a).
Devarim 29:9.
Source: Secretarial carbon copy.
I cannot conclude without expressing our appreciation of your consistent co-operation in the past, and our hope that you will redouble your efforts in behalf of the Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch in the year to come, to help us carry out its extensive program.
With kindest personal regards,
Very sincerely yours,
Rabbi Mendel Schneerson
