By the Grace of G-d Lag B'omer, 5745 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

It is not for convenience and the like that the Annual Convention usually takes place on a weekend, with Shabbos in the center. It underscores the special connection between a convention of Jewish women and daughters with the holy Shabbos.

This connection is further emphasized this year by the concurrent daily shiur of Rambam - whose 850th birthday on erev Pesach has been celebrated this year in all parts of the world. The shiur of today - Lag B'Omer - when this message is written, includes the beginning of Hilchos Shabbos, while the shiurim relating to the weekend of the Convention, deal with the concluding Laws of Shabbos.

All this brings to mind once again, and most forcefully, the extraordinary important role that HaShem has given to Jewish women, mothers and daughters, in connection with Shabbos, specifically in that it is they who usher in the Shabbos by lighting the Shabbos candles, long before sunset, even before the additional time that is consecrated for Tosfos Shabbos. Thus they light up the Shabbos in a manner that can be perceived even by the physical eye.

Very great indeed is the privilege and responsibility that has been allotted to the Jewish woman as Akeres Habayis and Em Habonim ("Foundation of the Home," and "Mother of the Children". Hers is the duty and privilege to raise the children in a home permeated with Torah and Mitzvos each and every day of the week, permeated especially with the profound experience of the holy Shabbos, the "foundation of all foundations" of Jewish life in general, and of the Jewish home in particular.

An additional point of emphasis is in the fact that the Convention Shabbos this year is Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Sivan the month of Mattan Torah, with the added significance, in the words of our Sages: "All agree that the Torah was given on Shabbos".

All the above will surely be reemphasized in greater length and depth at the Convention, in keeping with its very apt slogan "To learn and to teach, to keep and to do" - an assignment particularly compelling in the present day and age.

May HaShem grant that the Convention should be blessed with much Hatzlocho - "much Hatzlocho", in this case, including the successful implementation of all good resolutions and projects, to inspire and permeate all days ahead, with G-d's help.

With blessing for good tidings in all above, and for a joyous and inspiring Yom Tov of Kabbolas haTorah with joy and inwardness,

/Signed: Menachem Schneerson/