By the Grace of G-d 19th of Kislev, 5744 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am pleased to extend congratulations and prayerful wishes to the esteemed Dauer Family and all friends of the Hebrew Academy Lubavitch on this auspicious occasion. May it be blessed with Hatzlocho in every respect.

Since everything is by Divine Providence, and this event is taking place in the week of Sedra Vayechi, it is timely to recall the teaching of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch and Founder of Chabad - today (19th of Kislev) being the Anniversary of his Liberation - that the weekly Torah portion contains pertinent lessons for the current events of the week.

One such lesson, particularly relevant to the occasion, is to be found in the very first verse of the Sedra: "And Jacob lived ("vayechi") in the land of Egypt seventeen years" (Gen. 47:28). It came to light when the Alter Rebbe's little grandson (later to become famous as the Rebbe the "Tzemach Tzedek"), having heard from his Chumash teacher that these were Father Jacob’s best years, asked his grandfather how this was possible, seeing that Egypt was not the Holy Land, etc.

The Alter Rebbe explained that, as indicated in the previous Sedra, Yaakov Ovinu (our Patriarch Jacob) had sent his son Yehuda ahead of him to establish there a Torah school that would provide a complete Torah education to his children and succeeding generations; and when this was done, it was possible to live happily in Egypt.

The lesson is clear: Wherever Jews settle, it is their first duty to make sure that the young generation - including those who are "young" in terms of experience of Yiddishkeit in the everyday life, regardless of actual age - will be provided with a proper and full Torah education. The Hebrew Academy Lubavitch, and all who participate in programs and activities to spread Torah true Yiddishkeit with dedication and personal involvement - are the "Yehudas" of our time, whose vital work cannot be overemphasized.

May HaShem bless each and all of you to go from strength to strength in all the above, which will also widen the channels to receive G-d's generous blessings in all your needs, materially and spiritually.

With esteem and blessing,

M. Schneerson