FREE TRANSLATION
By the Grace of G-d
15th of Tammuz, 5733
Brooklyn, N.Y.
To Each and All of the Campers,
Boys and Girls, of pre-Bar (Bas)-Mitzvah Age
In All Summer Camps, Everywhere-
G-d Bless You All
Greeting and Blessing:
I hope and pray that you are making the fullest use of the present summer days to gain new strength and strengthen your health — both the health of the body and the health of the soul, which are closely linked together. And since the health of the soul is bound up with the Torah, which is “our very life and the length of our days,” and with its Mitzvos, “by which the Jew lives,” you are surely doing your utmost in regard to Torah study and the observance of the Mitzvos; in which case you may be certain of the fulfillment of the promise - “Try hard, and you will succeed.”
I wish to emphasize, particularly, one point in connection with the forthcoming “Three Weeks” — and you are, no doubt, familiar with the events and significance of these days.
The point is this: I want you to consider carefully the special Zechus which Jewish children have, a Zechus which affects our entire Jewish people, to which King David refers in the following words: “Out of the mouths of babes and infants You have ordained strength (oz) ... to still the enemy and avenger” - including also the enemy that has caused and still seeks vengeance to this day. In other words, the way to vanquish and silence the enemy is through the study of the Torah, called “strength” (oz), by the mouths of young children. Indeed, so great is their power, that our Sages of blessed memory declare: “The whole world exists only by virtue of the (Torah) breath of little Jewish school children, whose breath is pure and free of sin,” referring to children who have not reached the age of responsibility for wrongdoing, that is, boys and girls of pre-Bar (Bas)-Mitzvah age.
In this connection it is necessary to bear in mind the words of our Prophet Isaiah (in first chapter): “Zion will be redeemed through Justice (Mishpot) and her returnees through righteousness (Tzedoko).” “Mishpot,” here according to one interpretation, refers to the Torah. This means that through the study of the Torah and the observance of its Mitzvos, especially the Mitzvah of Tzedoko, the Redemption (Geulo) is brought closer.
And Tzedoko - in the light of what has been said in the beginning of this letter - includes both Tzedoko for the body and Tzedoko for the soul: Tzedoko for the body is, simply, giving Tzedoko to a poor man, or putting money in a Tzedoko-pushke (box); Tzedoko for the soul is to help one’s classmates and friends spiritually — that is, to encourage them in matters of Torah and Mitzvos, through showing them a living example of how a Jewish boy and girl should conduct themselves, and also by talking to them about these things.
Since it is my strong wish, and also great pleasure, to be your partner in this Tzedoko activity, I have sent out instructions to give each and every one of you a token amount of money in the currency of your country, which is to be my participation in the said Tzedoko campaign.
May G-d bless each and every one of you and grant you Hatzlocho in all above, especially in your Torah learning and practice of Tzedoko, in a steadily growing measure, so that also when you return home from summer camp and throughout the next school-year (may it be a good one for all of us) you will — with renewed vigor and in good health, in body as well as in soul — go from strength to strength in your study of the Torah with diligence and devotion, and that your studies should be translated into deeds — in the practice of the Mitzvos with Hiddur; and all this should be carried out with joy and gladness of heart.
And may we all very soon, together with all our Jewish brethren, merit the fulfillment of the prophecy that these days of the Three Weeks will be transformed from sadness into gladness and joy,
With the true and complete Geulo through our righteous Moshiach,
“Who shall reign from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth...
“And all the earth will be filled with G-d’s Glory.”
With blessing for Hatzlocho and good tidings in all above,
/Signed: Menachem Schneerson/
