By the Grace of G-d 12th of Elul, 5715 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Sholom uBrocho:

In acknowledgment of the information about your forthcoming 16th Annual Convention, taking place on 15th – 18th of Elul,

I send my prayerful wishes to the members, guests and friends of the Committee to make the Convention an assembly dedicated to the Heavenly Name and fruitful of practical deeds and accomplishments in the field of true religious education and uncompromising religious observance in every-day life.

The feeling of responsibility for your young brethren which has animated your activities all these years has surely, I trust, grown stronger with the time and will continue to spur you to ever growing deeds in every phase of your program. For as long as there is still one Jewish child to be brought back to our Heavenly Father, there is a "whole world" to be saved.¹ Unfortunately, many are they, especially among the youth, who are in urgent need of awakening to a life of Yiras Shomaim and the proper observance of the Torah and Mitzvoth.

Fortunate are you indeed that the Hashgocho Elyono has bestowed on you so important and life-saving a task. Know also that it has at the same time given you the full ability to carry it out to perfection, over and above the energy and enthusiasm which is the gift of youth.

Convening as you are in the days of self-searching and preparation of this month of Elul, and especially timing your Convention to conclude on the historic day of Chai Elul, the birthday of the Baal-Shem-Tov and of Rabbi Shneur Zalman (author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch), I hope will add solemnity, determination and selflessness to your efforts, which will be carried over throughout the coming year. Let the "three loves” which are one² – Ahavas Hashem, Ahavas haTorah and Ahavas kol echod miYisroel – which they endeavored to implant in all our people with complete self-dedication, be also your guiding principles and your fountains of strength for ever growing accomplishments, and you can be certain that the Almighty will bless your work.

Wishing you Hatzlocho and a Kesivo vachasimo toivo,

With blessing,

M. Schneerson