By the Grace of G-d On eve of 15th Kislev1 5734Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Pursuant to the letter of the beginning of Marcheshvan,^a the content of which was based on the general instruction and culminating point of the month of Tishrei, the seventh (שביעי) and "plentiful" (מושבע)² month, and the source of all good for the entire year, namely, the message contained in the phrase, And Yaakov went on his way -

And bearing in mind that each letter and word³ of the Torah is a world full of meaning and instruction -

There is a need to elaborate on the concepts contained in the said three Hebrew words, to wit:

And Yaakov (ויעקב): It is well known that the two names of our Patriarch, Yaakov and Yisroel⁴, are quite different,

(a) In time - The name Yaakov was given at birth, whereas "Yisroel" was bestowed later⁵, after he had achieved "You have striven with angels and with men, and prevailed.”

(b) In meaning - the name Yaakov is associated with ekev (עקב), "heel", which is the lowest and last part of the body, and wherein there is hardly any distinction between one person and another. The name Yisroel, on the other hand, has to do with leadership and mastery (שר), and, rearranged, spell "לי ראש", "I am the head," The head being the highest part of the body, wherein the essential differences (physical and spiritual) between individuals are located, viz., facial features, voice, looks, and mentality.⁶

Now, the significance of Yaakov⁷, in the said message of And yaakov went on his way, is in that it refers to the Divine mission given to every Jew, without exception, from birth⁸, while still in the state of “Yaakov,” and at the beginning of his Divine service. From this starting point, the mission is to be fulfilled in a manner containing the following elements:

Went on⁹ (הלך) - implying true locomotion, i.e. leaving completely behind one place (and spiritual state) to go to another, more desirable place.

Parenthetically, this is the reason why angels are called omdim¹⁰ "stationary", for although “they fulfill the Will of their Maker with awe and fear, and praise G-d in song¹¹ and melody” - which is their form of advancement¹² to higher states, there is no complete departure and change involved in their nature, hence this cannot be termed perfect “going.”

Only man is called mehalech, a “walker,” for his task is to go from strength¹³ to strength, even if his previous spiritual station, spiritually, is satisfactory. Yet, to remain in the same state will not do at all.¹⁴ His progression must involve a change, to the extent where his new spiritual state is incomparably higher than his previous one, however good it was, and he must thus continue on the road that leads to G-dliness, the En Sof, the Infinite, as indicated further -

His way (לדרכו) - the King’s Way (דרך המלך), the way of the Supreme King of the universe. The preeminence of a perfect way, as has been pointed out¹⁵, is that it links the remotest corner with the royal palace in the capital city; It is a two-way road, leading from the palace to the remote corner and from the remote corner to the palace.

This is how the service of every Jew, man and woman, should be. One must not be satisfied with one’s influence at home, in the community, or country, but one must open the way, the King’s way, as above, that leads even to the remotest corner of the earth, in order to bring there, too, the word of the king of kings, and illuminate that corner with the light of Torah and Mitzvoth and to uplift all that is in that corner "Unto you, O G-d, I lift my soul."

May G-d grant that each and every one of us will carry out the mission included in the said instruction of And Yaakov went on his way, with all that it connotes, and carry it out with joy¹⁸ for “joy breaks through barriers,” and thus help bring about the "dissemination of the fountains of the words of the living G-d outside¹⁹ (in remotest places)," and do so -

In accordance with the instructions of the concluding days of this month of Kislev, the days of Chanukah, as symbolized by the Chanukah lights which are kindled in growing numbers form day to day, steadily increasing the light,

To light up the darkness of the Golus, for the ultimate fulfillment of the promise: “All the earth will be filled with G-d’s glory.”²⁰

With esteem and blessing,

/Signed/ Menachem Schneerson