By the Grace of G-d21st of Menachem Av, 5724Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

This is to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter of the 8th of Menachem Av, on the eve of the day commemorating the Destruction. The¹ purpose of this commemoration is not just to inflict a sad period upon ourselves, but rather that we should be reminded and inspired to do all we can to lessen, and eventually remove altogether, the cause which brought about the sad events which we are now commemorating. For, as we declare in our prayers, “Because of our sins we have been exiled from our land.”² It is the neglect of the Torah and Mitzvoth, in the daily life and practice, which resulted in the Destruction and Exile. Therefore efforts to strengthen and spread the observance of the Torah and Mitzvoth in the daily life will hasten the complete Redemption through our righteous Moshiach, and, as promised, these sad days will be transformed into days of joy.³

One of the essential Mitzvoth is that of Taharas Hamishpocho which, as explained in our holy Sources, is directly related to the well-being of the newborn children. And although G-d’s Mitzvoth must be observed for their own sake, it is the will of the Creator to reveal to us that each Mitzvo has also a particular significance of its own which is connected with the spiritual and physical well-being of the person fulfilling the Mitzvo.

Incidentally, the importance of this particular Mitzvo can be seen also from the fact that when our Sages of the Mishna wished to illustrate how G-d gives one a pure heart, they said, “Just as the Mikveh purifies, so does the Holy One blessed be He” (Yoma, end of Chapt. Yom Hakipurim).

I send my best wishes to all the officers and members of your Society, as well as those who contribute their effort, time and money to this very great Mitzvo. May G-d bless you all with the fulfillment of your hearts’ desires for good.

With blessing,

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