By the Grace of G-d24th of Teves, 5744 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

It was a pleasure to see you earlier this week, and the members of your family who accompanied you. This is, of course, more gratifying than inquiring about you and receiving regards from you through our mutual friends.

Adding to the significance of the occasion is your having been honored with הגבה (Hagbah) - Lifting up the Torah while wrapped in Tallis and Tefillin.¹

The plain meaning of Hagbah is, of course, lifting the Torah from the Shulchan after the appropriate Torah reading, and showing it to all the Congregation while everyone recites the verse, "This is the Torah which Moshe placed before the children of Israel" (Deut. 4:44), followed by the verses, "It is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it, and those who support it are fortunate" (Prov. 3:18), "Its ways are pleasant ways, and all its paths are peace" (Ibid 3:17), "Long Life is at its right, riches and honor at its left" (Ibid 3:16), "The Lord desired, for the sake of his (Israel’s) righteousness, to make the Torah great and glorious” (Isaiah 42:21).

More deeply, it is also a reminder of the Jew’s commitment to uphold the Torah and Mitzvoth, and all matters connected with the Torah, with reverence and dedication, and in a way that all Jews in the community, men and women, young and old, should see and participate in keeping up this commitment in the everyday life and conduct.

May HaShem grant that you should always be practicing the Mitzvo of "Hagbah," in the fullest sense of the term, in a tangible way, by supporting, lifting and promoting all matters of Torah and Mitzvoth, particularly Torah education for both children and adults, in every possible way, "bodily, financially and soulfully” in a growing measure.

It is also significant that it all came to pass in the week of the 24th of Teves (the date of this letter), which is the anniversary of the Yahrzeit-Hilulo of the Founder of Chabad and the progenitor of the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty of Rebbes, whose lives personify the implementation of "Hagbah," in every sense of the term, as noted above. May the Zechus of the Alter Rebbe stand you and all of us in good stead for Hatzlocho in all above.

With esteem and with blessing,