For sure, your farbrengen added to the ideas of the month of Elul, when the King is in the field.

With Hashem's Help, 21st of Elul, 5715

Brooklyn

To the Participants in the Gathering on the Auspicious Day of Chai Elul, the Birthday of the Two Great Luminaries, the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe,

May Hashem bless you with life and all good things.

Shalom U'vracha (Peace and Blessings)!

I received your letter with great pleasure, sharing the good news of your gathering of friends and companions on the day of Chai Elul. Certainly, through this, you have added to the special aspect of Elul in general, which, as the Alter Rebbe writes in Likutei Torah (Parshas Re'eh 32b), is when "the King is in the field, and everyone is permitted to approach Him, and He receives all with a pleasant countenance," etc. It is well known, from the earliest generations of Chassidus, the saying that we merited to hear from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of blessed memory, regarding Chai Elul—that it brings vitality into all matters of Elul, which are encompassed by the three pillars upon which the world stands: Torah (as hinted in the acronym for Elul, “Ina leyado vesamti lach,” referring to the Torah, for words of Torah absorb, as mentioned in Makkos 10a), Avodah (Elul as the acronym for “Ani l’Dodi v’Dodi li”), and Gemilut Chassadim (Elul as the acronym for “Ish l’rei’eihu u’matanot la’evyonim,” as brought in Arovas HaBossem), all of which are preceded and founded upon the pillar of Teshuvah (Elul as the acronym for “Es levavcha ve’es levav,” Devarim 30:6).

In order for all of this to come to fruition without hindrance or obstacles, we pray that Hashem removes all barriers and provides us with all the goodness that strengthens our hands to fulfill the Torah, to be free to study wisdom and perform mitzvos (as stated in the Rambam’s Hilchos Teshuvah, beginning of Chapter 9). All of this is encapsulated in the traditional Jewish blessing for a good and sweet year.

With blessings for a Kesiva v’Chasima Tova to each and every one of you and your families.