By the Grace of G-dIsru-Chag, 24 Tishrei5715, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting and Blessings
The following is an extract of the Rabbi’s שליט"א message in connection with the above, from his address Simchath Torah, 5715 (yesterday):1
"The Divine influences and blessings come down and materialize in daily life especially through the channel of the Mitzvah of Tzedoko. The same is true of the Divine influences and blessings concentrated in the month of Tishrei for the whole year. I suggest, therefore, that in order to bring them down and materialize them in everyone’s personal daily life - a special contribution be made by everyone to the general fund, in an amount of coins or other currency equal to and more, corresponding to the number of days in the year, as explained last year. Since copies of last year's message are available, there is no need for repetition.
"The difference between this year and last, insofar as this matter is concerned, is that last year we had a Leap Year in our Jewish calendar, with 383 days, whereas this year it is a regular year, with 29 and 30 days alternating monthly, totaling 354 days. Everyone should therefore contribute 354 coins or currency units to the '354 Fund,' which will provide the channel for receiving and enjoying G-d’s blessings every day of the year, as explained last year."
In connection with the above message from the Lubavitcher Rabbi שליט"א, we are enclosing herewith a copy of last year’s message concerning the 383 Fund.2
You will surely wish to participate in it, and carry the message to your friends, in order to enable them, too, to have a part in it, for their good and the good of their families.
Respectfully and with blessing
SECRETARIAT OF THE LUBAVITCHER RABBI שליט"א
Encl.
Notes and sources
During Tishrei of 5714, the Rebbe founded a very innovative tzedaka fund, “Keren Hashana.” The Rebbe explained that this fund would ensure that everyone give to charity every day of the year. The fund, which the Rebbe created under the aegis of Machne Israel, disburses tzedaka twice every day on behalf of all those that participate in the fund. The Rebbe said that donations should be made on behalf of all members of the family in the amount matching the number of days of the year (multiples of 388 for that year). On Simchas Torah of 5715, the Rebbe reiterated the purpose of this fund and encouraged all present to once again donate money matching the number of days in 5715 (354). The next day, an excerpt of this address was edited in Yiddish and English before being disseminated in the present letter.
1) The Yiddish transcript was also edited by the Rebbe and published in Bitaon Chabad, vol. 7, p. 4 (subsequently printed in Sichos Kodesh 5715, p. 64). A Hebrew version is printed in Toras Menachem, vol. 14, p. 86.
2) The message can be accessed here. The Yiddish version of this message is printed in Yiddish in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 2, p. 651, and the Hebrew version in Bitaon Chabad, vol. 7, p. 3, (subsequently printed in Toras Menachem, vol. 10, p. 127).
Source: Photocopy of the original.
Published: Rebbe Responsa Exclusive.