By the Grace of G-d25th of Elul, 5722Brooklyn, N.Y.
To my Brethren, Everywhere
G-d bless you all,
Hearty Greetings and Blessing:
The year 5722 which is about to end has been one of serious repercussions in the world at large, and in the Jewish world in particular.
Mounting tension and anxiety, a quickening of the race for arms supremacy,1 and the general confusion and vacillation in international relations, have reached new heights in the past year. While in regard to the Jewish position, in particular, we have witnessed the insecurity of some Jewish communities in various parts of the world.
The situation on the individual level, as reflected in the everyday life of the individual Jew, has not been overly gratifying either. For, although there has been a strong and persistent awakening and quest for return to our eternal fountains of faith bound up with Torah and Mitzvoth, the opportunities have, unfortunately, not been utilized to an adequate degree. (In these days of Selichoth I will say no more about it.)
* * *
At this time, facing the arrival of the new year (may it bring much good to us and all our people), every Jew should ask himself: What can I do to improve and secure the situation in the coming year? What can I do for my fellow, for myself, for my people, and for the world at large?
Rosh Hashanah provides the answer; it also provides the opportunity.
The central theme of Rosh Hashanah is the renewal of our affirmation of the Divine Sovereignty, through our “Coronation’’ of G-d as King and "gladly accepting His Kingship”2: jubilantly, most subserviently and very reverently proclaiming His rule and submitting ourselves to His Will.
On Rosh Hashanah the Jew gives effect to the Divine call: “Make Me King over you!"3 – a call addressed to each and everyone of us, Jew and Jewess.
Since each individual Jew is a component part of our Jewish people as a whole, the proclamation of the Divine Sovereignty by each one of us individually realizes the Coronation of G-d as the “King of Israel and his Redeemer."4 And our personal acceptance of the Divine Sovereignty, in the midst of all our people, has its effect upon the entire world in which we live, and in the entire Universe, so that it brings the fulfillment of our prayer:5 "Our G-d, and G-d of our fathers, Reign upon all the Universe.”
* * *
Acceptance of the Divine Sovereignty expresses itself in ordering our daily life to be in full accord with the Divine Majesty's will and commandments, given to us by the "King Who wills Life"6 (offering us a true and worthy life), as embodied in the Torah, the Torah of Life, and Mitzvoth, of which it is written "And he shall live by them."7
Such a life ensures a harmonious and happy life for the individual, for the community, and for the entire Universe; happy both spiritually and materially -
For, in truth, the spiritual and the material do not constitute two separate worlds, as we declare in the Shema (significantly included in the Musaf of Rosh Hashanah):8
Hear, O Israel! (when the Jew understands and perceives that) G-d is our Lord (of the individual as of our people; and that) G-d is One (everywhere and forever) – the Jew brings about and reveals the unity of the universe. He recognizes that it is the spiritual which determines the physical. Hence, an improvement in the spiritual life brings an improvement in the material life.
* * *
The betterment in the spiritual life, in fulfillment of the Divine Majesty’s commands, must come in both areas: in the commandments relating to our duties towards G-d, and in those relating to our duties to fellow-man. This is emphasized by the Rosh Hashanah call: "Teshuvah ("return"), Tefilah (prayer), and Tzedakah (charity) avert the evil decree."9
Teshuvah is the firm resolution to return to our King, with sincere contrition for past disobedience and a resolute determination for a better life in the future; and it must express itself in both Tefilah, the area of duty towards G-d, and Tzedakah – in interhuman relations.
These, combined together bring to the individual, to our people as a whole and to the world at large -
A כתיבה וחתימה טובה – for a good and sweet year, both materially and spiritually.
With the blessing of כתיבה וחתימה טובה בטוב הנראה והנגלה
/MENACHEM SCHNEERSON/
Notes and sources
Note: The English renditions of the Rebbe’s Michtavim Klali’im (circular letters addressed to every Jew) were edited by the Rebbe. The Yiddish version of this letter (with slight variations) is printed in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 9, p. 431; Igros Kodesh, vol. 22, letter 8519. Some of the following footnotes are culled from there.
It is worth noting that the Rebbe remarked on this letter (free translation), “there is a lot of meaning hidden in each word, and it must be thoroughly studied.” For more regarding this letter, see Igros Melech p. 59.
1) In the Yiddish version of this letter, the Rebbe clearly spells out that this is referring to nuclear proliferation. In 1962, the Cold War was entering one of its tensest phases, reaching a crescendo during the Cuba Missile Crisis several days after this letter was written.
2) Nusach of the evening prayers.
3) Rosh HaShana 16a.
4) Yeshayahu 44:6.
5) Nusach of the Rosh HaShana Amida.
6) Addition to the Amida during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah.
7) Vayikra 18:5.
8) Devarim 6:4.
9) Nusach of the Unesaneh Tokef.
Source: Photocopy of original.
Published: Letters by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, (Kehot, 5739), p. 30.
Note: Although this letter was originally written in Yiddish, the English and Hebrew renditions was also looked over and edited by the Rebbe.
To Stabilize A World Of Havoc
Source & Link: Letters by the Lubavitcher Rebbe [Kehot 5739], pg. 30: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IopMoJLSO7KyKEOS4R79DL52iyeJldNq/view?usp=drivesdk
Alternative Source: To the Sons and Daughters of Our People Israel, Everywhere' vol. 1, pg. 37 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bZU3k5eQvPO5fp49UOXbN9b90I-uzKPw/view?usp=sharing
Di Yidishe Heim 17