By the Grace of G-d Aleph vayakhel, 5734 Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

It is significant that the Annual Dinner is this year taking place on the day after the 2nd of Nissan, the day on which the founder of Beth Rivkah, my father-in-law of saintly memory, assumed the Nessius, succeeding his illustrious father, the Rebbe RaShaB.

This was very much in keeping with the tradition of uninterrupted leadership, with which Divine Providence has favored our people through the ages, as it is written, "The sun shines forth and the sun sets” - meaning, that before the sun of one great leader sets, the sun of his successor rises.

It was indeed fortunate that our people was blessed with such a Manhig in a most critical period of its history. And when Divine Providence ultimately brought him to these shores for the last decade of his fruitful life on earth, he breathed new life into American Jewry, and transformed it into a flourishing and shining center of Torah Judaism, to compensate for the dark night which came over European Jewry. This, too, was in keeping with the above quoted verse, "The sun shines forth," etc.

One of his first and main endeavors, upon arrival here, was to create a Torah-true network of educational institutions, for boys as well as for girls. This is how the Beth Rivkah came into being. He devoted particular attention to the upbringing and education of a new generation of Jewish womanhood. Indeed, those early students of Beth Rivkah are now happy mothers, each an exemplary Akeres Habayis. The importance which my father-in-law, the Rebbe, attached to the role of Torah-true women and daughters in Jewish life, is further underscored by the fact that he devoted many discourses, talks and messages to the women especially, so that they could partake of the inspiration and warmth of the teachings of Chasidus and its way of life, and through them the spirit of Torah and Chasidus would be strengthened also in their families and all their surroundings. The contribution of the Beth Rivkah Schools to the revitalizing of Yiddishkeit, both in America and in other parts, is inestimable.

The words of Tzadikim - their instructions and blessings -are eternal. And when the Rebbe, the leader of the generation, gives instructions as to what is to be done, and also gives his blessing to carry them out in actual practice, it is at the same time a delegation of power to carry out these instructions in the fullest measure, with Chasidic vitality and inspiration. It is at the same time also a source of blessing and Hatzlocho for all who participate in this work, in all their affairs, both materially and spiritually.

It is, therefore, my prayerful hope that all the friends of Beth Rivkah, and especially the participants in this Annual Dinner, will fully appreciate the great responsibility and extraordinary Zechus which are theirs, to be active partners in helping support and expand the Beth Rivkah Schools, especially in view of the present serious and urgent times, when the education of our daughters is no less vital to the existence of our Jewish people, than the education of our sons.

And, as mentioned above, G-d’s blessings will accompany each and every one of you in all your needs, both materially and spiritually.

With esteem and blessing for Hatzlocho and good tidings.

/Signed/ Menachem Schneerson