By the Grace of G-d9th of Sivan, 5736Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Your telegram about the Annual Founders Scholarship Banquet reached me too late to acknowledge same in time for the banquet. However, this makes no difference in regard to the essential aspect, since a blessing is always in time.

May G-d grant that the event will prove an even greater success than originally anticipated, and that all who took part in it will do their utmost to help attain this end. Especially as the event took place on the day after Shovuos, the Yom Tov of Mattan Torah, which is celebrated in the spirit of receiving the Torah with joy and inwardness. May this spirit permeate all the friends and supporters of the Yeshiva throughout the year.

It is gratifying to note that the occasion has been linked with a Proclamation for Jewish Tradition by the Governor of the State, as well as on federal and state levels - in conjunction with our Proclamation of the current year as a "Year of Education." I hope and pray that these resolutions will be translated into actual deeds, since the essential thing is the deed.

All the more so, since, as has often been emphasized, the Torah Chinuch of our children vitally affects in a most beneficial way, not only the children themselves, but also their future offspring to all posterity. And the benefit is in both aspects, physical and spiritual, which for a Jew go hand in hand together, in accordance with the Divine Covenant and Promise: "If you will walk in My statutes (meaning the dissemination of Torah) and will heed My commandments (the prohibitions) and do them (fulfill the positive precepts)" - then follow all the Divine blessings, both materially and spiritually, as detailed in that section of the Torah (Lev. 22:3-13).

With prayerful wishes for Hatzlocho and good tidings in all above, and with blessing to each and all the friends and supporters of the Torah Center,

Cordially,

M. Schneerson