By the Grace of G-d
3rd of Sivan, 5744
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Mr. ...
Greeting and Blessing:
I received your letter postdated May 30th, and many thanks for the good news it contained.
To begin with a blessing, I extend to you prayerful wishes on the occasion of your forthcoming 70th birthday.
I trust you know of the good custom to observe a birthday by an extra donation to Tzedoko, and by beginning to recite daily the appropriate Psalm from the Book of Tehillim (Ps. 71 for the duration of the year) – in addition to the daily recital of Tehillim, etc.
You are certainly right in saying that a Jew should never hesitate to make a fresh start, regardless of how it has been in the past. And since this is what the Torah expects, it is certain that one has the capacity to do that. Indeed, as you know, there is a pointed message to this fact by the institution of Pesach Sheni, by which HaShem has given a Jew the opportunity to rectify and make good the omission of bringing the Korban Pesach in its proper time. This reminds us that “It is never too late” to make up for any failure in the past, whatever the reasons or circumstances were.
With the approach of Shovuos, the Festival of Mattan Torah, I extend to you and yours the traditional Chabad blessing “to receive the Torah with joy and inwardness.”
With blessing,
