By the Grace of G-dErev Shabbos Vaieroeilov Hashem 5718Brooklyn, New York

Greeting and Blessing:

I was glad to be informed about the forthcoming annual Banquet of the Yeshiva, which is to take place on the 8th day of Kislev. This date occurs in the week which is flanked by the two sidrahs Vayyetze and Vayishlach, from which everyone connected with the Banquet should draw timely inspiration.

"The experience of the Patriarchs is a guide for their descendants,"¹our Sages tell us.

In the Sidrah Vayyetze we are told how our Patriarch Jacob left his home, with nothing but his walking staff, spent years in a foreign land and environment suffering the privations and difficulties of a refugee. Yet he made good, and in the following Sidrah we see him at the head of his twelve children, blessed by G-d materially and spiritually.

Jacob's greatest blessing were his children. Although all of them (except Benjamin) were born in a foreign land, they were all raised in their father's way of life; none of them was lost to the fold.

The history of our Patriarchs, particularly of the 'favorite’ Patriarch Jacob,² is repeated in the life of every Jew to this day in every land and city.³ This experience provides both a challenge and a promise. It is a challenge for a minority to preserve its identity, traditions and way of life and ensure that the new generation would follow in the same path. Sometimes the difficulties may be great, the obstacles many. Yet where there is a determination the results are assured. Our Patriarch Jacob succeeded, and we have the promise that his descendants will succeed too, if they are inspired by his example and imbued with the same will and determination.

The Jewish community of Boston is fortunate in having a Lubavitcher Yeshiva in its midst. By supporting it, sending their children to study in it, the challenge will give way to opportunity, and opportunity to promise and blessings, materially and spiritually.

With prayerful wishes for your success, and with blessing

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