By the Grace of G-d 20 Menachem Av 5739 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings and Blessings

I was pleased to hear that the camp season is proceeding' successfully for you, strengthening both your physical and spiritual health.

No doubt there is no need to explain to you that with man in general - the health of the body is intertwined with the health of the soul, and with the Jew in particular - the state of the soul is bound to the observance of the Torah and Its Mitzvot of which It is said "for they are our life and the length of our days".

You are a children of a wise and understanding people, as the Torah attests about Israel that it Is "a wise and understanding people". As the soul animates the body, you surely understand that the deeds of the soul - i.e. the study of the Torah and the observance of its precepts - take precedence to everything and that causes the Jew to be healthy and wholesome in both soul and body:

May you continue with this kind of conduct, by way of a continuous and intensification throughout the year to follow, and as our sages of blessed memory answered us that nothing can stand in the way of a person's will and intention. This means that everything depends exclusively on your own attitude.

This is relevant especially in the context of the month of Elul which follows the camp - season. For the Torah states that Elul is an acronym for the words "Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li - I am to my Beloved, and my Beloved is to me." - and the term Dodi (my Beloved) refers to the Almighty who loves his people Israel, the young and old, and because of this love He wishes for us our true and ultimate good.

No doubt you will fully utilize these days which are days of preparation for the New Year coming - which will be most auspicious for us and all of Israel - To strengthen the conduct and attitude of "I am to my Beloved", that is a conduct inspired by a love of G-d and a willingness and desire to fulfill His will. Then you are assured that 'My Beloved is to me" - that the Almighty, may He be blessed, will make you succeed and bless you and all those, that are close and dear to you, with all physical and spiritual needs.

With blessings for success and good tidings,