By the Grace of G-d 11th of Nissan, 5738 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to be informed that the Annual Dinner is to take place on Isru-Chag haPesach. May G-d grant that it should be with Hatzlocho in the fullest measure.

Especially as the event will take place immediately after the day of Achron-shel-Pesach, which occurs this year on Shabbos: for both Pesach and Shabbos have a direct connection with Torah-true Chinuch:

The central aspect of Pesach is Yetzias-Mitzraim - the Liberation from Egypt - and Zman Chelruseinu - the Festival of Our Freedom. And for a Jew, true liberty and freedom is experienced when he conducts his everyday life in full accord with the Torah (as our Sages interpret the words chorus al haluchos, "engraved upon the Tablets"; read: cheirus, "freedom"). For the Torah takes the Jew out of the constraints and limitations (Mitzraim in the sense of metzorim "boundaries") of the physical world, both external and internal, and elevates him to a higher world of spirituality and holiness. This is why the ultimate purpose and culmination of the Exodus from Egypt was to receive the Torah at Sinai (as G-d had expressly told Mosheh Rabbeinu, "When you will take the people out of Egypt, you will worship G-d - receive the Torah - on this mountain").

Mattan Torah, the Giving of the Torah - according to the consensus of our Sages - took place on Shabbos. One of the explanations for the choice of this day is that just as Shabbos takes a Jew out of the mundane, materialistic weekday environment and elevates him to a state of holiness, thereby infusing purity and holiness also into the weekday affairs; so the Torah, Toras Chayim, illuminates and sanctifies the Jew in all aspects of his everyday life.

The connection between Pesach and Shabbos is also emphasized by the fact that the Torah, Toras Emes, designates Pesach as "Shabbos" (Lev. 23:12,15) which is particularly relevant this year when Pesach and Shabbos actually coincide - since both contain the aspect of "Yetzias Mitzraim" in the sense of "breaking through the constraints" of the physical world, as mentioned above.

In order to achieve this purpose in the daily life, it is necessary that the education of a Jew should begin from earliest childhood, as was the case with the original Yetzias Mitzraim, when - as our Sages declare - the Geulo came In the merit of the Children, who had been brought up - while still in Egypt - in such a way that they were the first to proclaim, "This is my G-d , and I will cling to Him."

The practical instruction of all that has been said above is: That every year at this time, each and every Jew, man and woman, should rejuvenate and strengthen the resolve to attain a fuller measure of freedom from commonplace, conventional secularism, and make the daily life ever brighter and holier through illuminating and permeating it with the light of the Torah and Mitzvos.

In other words: One must continuously strengthen one's own Torah-Chinuch - since in regard to the Torah, which is "longer than the earth and wider than the ocean," also, the one who is advanced in years is but a "child" who has much to learn and must advance and develop steadily.

How much more so in regard to the Chinuch of children in the plain sense, when the formative years must be fully devoted to Torah-true Chinuch, since these years lay the foundation for the whole future life and also for future generations.

It is therefore to be hoped most confidently that all friends of "Oholei Torah," especially the participants in the Annual Dinner - being inspired by the fresh impact of the Yom Tov Pesach and of Shabbos-kodesh - will respond with particular enthusiasm for the support and expansion of this Torah-true educational institution "Oholei Torah." In the merit of it, the Al-mighty will surely bless everyone of you in all your needs, particularly to have true Yiddish Nachas, which is Torah-and-Mitzvos-Nachas, from your own children and offspring, in prosperity and freedom, both materially and spiritually.

With blessing for a kosher and joyous Pesach and for good tidings in all above,

/Signed: Menachem Schneerson/