By the Grace of G-d 17 Teves, 5740 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 5th day of Chanukah, which comes in addition to the personal regards I received through our mutual friends, especially Rabbi Shlomo Cunin.

I am deeply gratified to be informed of your generous help and participation in behalf of the Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad. I emphasize "participation," since help could also come from an outsider, where participation means being an active partner in the cause, and such partnership of Jews involves participation not only in terms of personal effort, time and money, but also a soulful participation that truly unifies all Jews (as explained at length in chapter 32 of the Tanya).

Many thanks for the good news your letter contained, and may G-d grant that you should be able to implement your resolutions and pledges in the fullest measure. May it also be in keeping with the words of the Mishna to the effect that one should "say little and do much." At first glance this dictum is somewhat strange, since it refers also to Gedolei Yisroel, and why should they say little. But the meaning of it is that however much a person says and pledges, it turns out to be little in terms of their actual deeds, which by far exceed their words.

This is also one of the pointed messages of Chanukah, as has been mentioned frequently. For, when we light two candles on the second night of Chanukah, we have fulfilled the Mitzvo with Hiddur dehiddur and that is all that is required at the moment, yet the following night of Chanukah we add an extra light of Chanukah and so on the subsequent nights of Chanukah, increasing their lights - symbolizing the light of the Torah and Mitzvoth - from day to day.

And since G-d rewards in kind, He sends His blessings in all needs likewise in a growing and most generous measure. May it be so with you and yours, and may you always have good news to report.

With esteem and blessing

M. Shneerson