First Day of Parshas Trumah, 25 Shevat, 5744. Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to be informed of the forthcoming Dinner event. May HaShem grant that it be with much Hatzlocho in every respect, both financially and spiritually.

Inasmuch as the Dinner is taking place in the middle of the week pertaining to the Sedrahs Trumah and Tetzaveh, and in light of the Alter Rebbe's saying that "a Jew should live with the time" meaning the Torah-time of Parshas-haShovua - we turn for instruction and inspiration to the current Sedrahs, in which HaShem instructs Moshe Rabbeinu about the construction of the Mishkan with its sacred vessels, followed by details of the sacred garments of the Kohanim and other aspects of daily Divine service in the Sanctuary.

The "keynote" of these Sedrahs is, of course, HaShem's command and request: "Let them make Me a Mikdash, and I will dwell among (and within) them."

In these few, but most meaningful, words, HaShem reveals his inner desire to have a "dwelling place" for His Shechinah among and within each and all of His people, whom He had designated - by virtue of the holy Torah and Mitzvot which He has given us as "a Kingdom of Kohanim (G-d's servants) and a Holy Nation."

While the physical Mishkan and Mikdash were only temporary, and were later succeeded by Houses of Learning and Houses of Prayer (Yeshivot and Synagogues) as spiritual centers (Mikdash Me'at, "miniature sanctuaries") - the really eternal "Sanctuary" has always been, and must continue to be, in the hearts and homes of Jews wherever they live. This is why Torah Chinuch has always been the primary concern of Jews, both as individuals and as members of the community.

A Lubavitch Yeshivah has a distinctive character, in keeping with the name given to the first Yeshivah in Lubavitch by its saintly Founder, the Rebbe RaSHaB: "Tomchei-Tmimim." This designation accentuates the wholeness of Torah, Torah Tmimah, and the wholeness of Torah-Chinuch, combining the service of the brain with the service of the heart (Torah and Tefilah) - not as two separate services, but as one in which the mind and heart, intellect and emotion, blend into one - "Lubavitch" - dimension.

To achieve this goal calls for an intensive Torah-Tmimah-Chinuch, the hallmark of the Lubavitcher Yeshivot, where the students are permeated with responsibility and dedication to serve as Neros l'ho’ir, "shining lights" to irradiate their surroundings with the light and warmth of Torah and Mitzvot.

Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester is young and growing, and needs utmost support to meet a vital need. I hope and pray that the response to its appeal will be enthusiastic, inspired by the response of our ancestors to the Divine call: "Make Me a Sanctuary." That appeal resulted in an outpouring of donations of gold and silver, etc. that were "sufficient and more" (even without pledges), and all in two days!

With esteem and blessing for Hatzlocho in all above,

M. Schneerson