By the Grace of G-dRosh Chodesh Kislev, 5740 Brooklyn, N. Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I received with much pleasure the announcement of the forthcoming Celebration, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tanenbaum, taking place on the second day of Chanukah.

The timing of this auspicious event is both appropriate and significant, for Chanukah, as we all know, commemorates the rededication of the Beis Hamikdosh and the rekindling of the Menorah, the symbol of Torah and Mitzvos, as it is written, "a Mitzvah is a lamp, and the Torah is light."

The special Mitzvah of Chanukah, the lighting of the Chanukah lights, calls for lighting them "at the entrance of the home, outside," "after sunset," and in a manner of adding one more candle each night of Chanukah.

The Hebrew word for "education" is Chinuch, which comes from the same root as Chanukah, "dedication"; for the purpose of Jewish education is to bring up the child with a profound sense of dedication and commitment to Torah and Mitzvos. Significantly, the requirement to light the Chanukah Lights "at the entrance of the home, outside," points to the basic rule of Jewish education that though it begins at home and continues within the walls of the Day School or Yeshiva, it must be so thoroughly permeated with the light of Torah and Mitzvos that when the boy and girl reach the age when they leave home and go "outside," they will continue to shine with this light. This is particularly imperative where the outside environment is in a state of "after sunset" because the light of Torah has not yet illuminated its darkness.

There is a further symbolic lesson in lighting the Chanukah Lights in growing numbers from day to day. Even though one candle was quite sufficient on the first night, and adding one more light on the second night has shown a most satisfactory advance, yet it is still necessary to keep on adding a light on each subsequent night. This is a pointed reminder that intensifying the light of Torah and Mitzvos at home, and spreading it outside, must be constantly on the increase, however perfectly complete it was the day before.

I extend prayerful wishes to the Honored Guests and all participants to go from strength to strength in your continued endeavors in the said direction.

And although "the reward of a Mitzvah is the Mitzvah itself," it also widens the channels to receive G-d's blessings in all Personal needs, in a growing measure, both materially and spiritually.

With esteem and blessing,

M. Schneerson