By the Grace of G-d Lag b’Omer, Chai Iyar 5747. Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

An event in behalf of a Torah-true educational institution is always timely and auspicious, but it is particularly so when it takes place - as the present occasion - within the Three Days of Preparation, immediately preceding Shovuos, the Festival of Mattan-Torah, when our Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Thus, Shovuos recalls and reinaugurates the Great Day, when each and all of our Jewish people were admitted into the first Torah “institutions” - the forerunner of all subsequent Torah-true educational institutions from generation to generation to the present day, all of which are, in a real sense, the continuous extension of that first Torah institution at Mount Sinai.

This is why the present occasion is particularly timely and significant.

The "Chai-Light" designation of this Banquet aptly underlines two essential characteristics of Torah: Chai (life) - as the Torah (meaning, "instruction") is called Toras-Chayim, being our true guide in life and the source of "our life and the length of our days", and Light - as it is written, "A Mitzvah is a lamp and the Torah is light."

I am pleased to extend congratulations and prayerful wishes to the honored guests and all friends of the Hebrew Academy-Lubavitch on helping this Torah institution reach the present milestone.

I am confident that all of you appreciate the paramount duty and privilege to be involved in the vital work of this Torah institution and help it to continue from strength to strength and reach further milestones in this direction.

With esteem and blessing for Hatzlocho in all above, and for an inspiring Yom Tov of "Receiving the Torah with joy and inwardness”

M. Schneerson