ב”ה Elul 26, 5706 Sept. 22, 1946

My dear Mr. Stulman:

I thank you on behalf of the Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, and on my own behalf, for your letter and good wishes upon the coming New Year, and also for your thoughtful token gift, a receipt for which is enclosed herewith.

We are especially gratified to read in your letter "shall do the best we can to take care of the needs of the Merkos as soon as this is possible."

We heartily reciprocate your good wishes, and hope and pray that the Almighty will bless you and yours with a truly happy and successful New Year, spiritually and materially.

There is a lesson in everything that occurs about us, and especially in matters concerning the Jew's prescribed way of life.

The day of Creation has not been given a special place in our Calendar, but our Torah has set aside the day of Man's creation - the sixth day of Creation - on which Rosh Hashanah has been fixed.

Briefly, the significance of this may be interpreted as follows:

The Creation of this physical world is in itself no occasion for celebration. For the creation of this world is a great come-down from the Infinite, being the lowest of a series of worlds created; it could come about only by the concealment of the Infinite Light and its contraction and incorporation into finite material things, things which so effectively conceal the Light of G-d as to give room for the fallacious idea of there being forces combatting the Divine Light. To this extent the Creation itself is no cause for festivity.

However, when Man was created, empowered with the ability to dispel this illusionary darkness and to spread the Light of G-d throughout the universe by virtue of his work prescribed by the Torah, and, moreover, through his work in lighting up this world he has the power of elevating all the worlds of Creation, this day surely deserves to be a Day of Memorial of the Work of Creation; for on this day, our Sages tell us, Man (Adam) accepted the reign of G-d and proclaimed His sovereignty over the entire universe.¹

By fulfilling this primary duty, man earns G-d's blessing to be inscribed, on this day of Rosh Hashanah, unto a happy New Year, materially and spiritually.

With personal regards and best wishes,

Very sincerely yours,

M. Schneerson

Chairman, Exec. Committee.