By the Grace of G-dErev-Shabbos Parshas Yisro, 5738. Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

The timing of this year’s Convention during the weekend of Parshas Terumah is significant, since one of the highlights of the Sedra is the women’s remarkable response to the Divine call for contributions towards the building of the Mishkan, which was coupled with G-d’s promise of v’shochanti b’soichom — “I will dwell in the midst of them.”¹

We are reminded of the familiar Sicha of my father-in-law of saintly memory addressed to Jewish women (Riga, 5694),² centering on the role of Jewish women in connection with Mattan-Torah and, subsequently, the Mishkan. On both occasions, as the Torah indicates, the women took first place, before the men. The lesson of it, as explained in detail in the Sicha, is that women have a leading part in the preservation of the Torah and Mitzvos by reason of their impact on the family life, the conduct of the Jewish home, and especially the upbringing of the children, thereby also ensuring that G-d will always dwell in the midst of our people.

The Torah is eternal, and so are its teachings. The readiness of our Jewish women to accept the Torah, and their eager response in behalf of the Mishkan, gladly parting with their most treasured personal possessions, established the historic role of Jewish women in Jewish life for all times. Moreover, Kabbolas haTorah was not a one-time happening in the distant past, but is an everyday experience. Likewise the building of the Mishkan — in terms of the inner Mishkan and Mikdosh that is in the heart of every Jew is something that requires constant rededication on the part of each and every Jew, man and woman.

G-d has bestowed extraordinary gifts and privileges on Jewish women, and together with it — far-reaching obligations, of which you are all surely aware. There is no need for me to re-emphasize them here, except that our Sages prompt us to “encourage the energetic.”³

I hope and pray that the Convention will be blessed with Hatzlocho to achieve all its objectives in the fullest measure.

With blessing for Hatzlocho and good tidings,

M. Schneerson