By the Grace of G-d Lag B'Omer, 5735 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

On the occasion of the forthcoming Third Annual Chassidic Song-Festival, I extend to all of you my prayerful wishes that the event should be crowned with utmost Hatzlocho in every respect.

An event of this kind is, of course, in harmony with the spirit of Chassidus, which stresses the principle ”Serve G-d with joy” - that is with emesdike (true) joy that is rooted in Toras Emes; all the more so, since the proceeds are earmarked for the activities and projects of the Lubavitch Youth Organization for the promotion of Yiddishkeit and Yiddish life in your community and elsewhere.

It is noteworthy that the event is taking place in the month of Mattan Torah, characterized as the "Third Month." Our Sages observe that the significance of the month of Mattan Torah being the third month is in that it corresponds to the fact that the Torah (which itself consists of three parts, Torah, Neviim, Kesuvim) was given to the Jewish people consisting of three segments, Kohanim, Leviim and Yisraelim, who together form one unified nation, keepers of the one Torah.

One of the ideas of this three-fold equation is that G-d so created the world that every Jew at all times incorporates in himself one part which is wholly dedicated to G-d, symbolized by Kohanim; another part which represents predominantly mundane matters, necessary for material well-being, but with periods reserved for Torah study - symbolized by Yisraelim (laymen); with a part that serves as intermediary to combine the two others - symbolized by Leviim, combining all three into one harmonious wholesome Jew.

One of the teachings of this Divinely ordained world order is that each and every activity of a Jew, however mundane it may be, must be directly linked with the sphere of holiness, and not in any artificial or forced way, but as a natural and joyous expression of the inner self.

May G-d grant that each one of the participants will be suitably inspired by the Concert and take home with him a strengthened resolve to make his self and his home a fitting abode for the Divine Presence, filled with the light, warmth, joy and vitality of living Judaism, in fulfillment of G-d’s Will, expressed in the words, "Make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them” - among and within each and every Jew and every Jewish home.

With blessing for Hatzlocho and happy tidings,

M. Schneerson