By the Grace of G-d 12th day of Sivan, 5750 Brooklyn, N.Y

Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to be informed of the forthcoming dinner of the Rabbinical College of America which will take place, G-d willing, on Sunday, the 17th of Sivan. I hereby send my heartfelt greeting and blessing to the distinguished honoree, to the chairmen and to all the guests and participants in this outstanding event. May it be G-d׳s will that this undertaking be crowned with great success in all aspects, both quantitatively and qualitatively. This year's dinner takes place in the month of Sivan, the month in which we celebrate the festival of Shavuos, the Season of the giving of the Torah. As is known, the event of G-d's giving the Torah is renewed yearly, and moreover, in an even loftier manner than the first time, for "holiness constantly ascends."

We find that Mattan Torah, G-d׳s giving of the Torah, is closely bound up with the cause of education:

The festival of Shavuos, the season of the giving of the Torah, is the day in which all Jews, young and old, including Moshe Rabbeinu, of blessed memory, were "enrolled" into the discipline of Torah education - on a new and exalted level.

This is in keeping with the explanation of our sages of blessed memory, that when the Torah was given at Mt. Sinai, the Jewish people were like children in school, and G-d, our Father in heaven, taught Torah to the Jewish people, His children, as the Torah states, "You are children to G-d your L-rd."

And though Jews educated their children also before Mattan Torah, as the Torah relates of Avraham Avinu, that "he will instruct his children and his household after him, and they will keep G-d‘s ways, doing charity and justice," i,e., Avraham educated his children in the path of Torah and Mitzvos, and indeed, before Mattan Torah the Jewish people had "Yeshivos" in which Jews were instructed in the way of Torah and Mitzvos.

Nevertheless, it could not compare to the education of the Jewish people as this was accomplished through Mattan Torah, for this was an unprecedented and loftier form of education, unparalleled by anything until then, inasmuch as the instruction at Mattan Torah came from G-d Himself, in all His glory.

Bearing in mind all the above, I am sure that all participants in this annual event, will respond with unique devotion, so as to enable this important educational institution to strengthen and broaden it's Vital activities.

G-d will surely bless and grant success to each and every participant and benefactor of this institution, within Klal Yisroel, providing to all their needs both material and spiritual.

With esteem, and with blessings for success and good tidings in all the above

M. Schneerson