Recently, i asked a few people how one prepares for 22 shvat. are there standard hachanos? what are we meant to do to ready ourselves-to be proper kelim for the obviously intense inspiration that comes from standing together with hundreds of sister shluchim, all dedicating their lives to realizing the Rebbe's dream.

Interestingly enough, the common threads in all the answers involved shopping and cold weather- "buy good gloves" "make sure you have warm boots" "two words- down coat".

But I was not deterred. there must be some way to prepare a fitting vessel, one that will properly contain and maintain the chayus that comes from the convention. A way to store and channel it so that my entire year will run off the gas of convention.

I happened across a tape of various sichos the Rebbe speaks to women as i searched my cousins house for something to listen to on the way to hebrew school (our car only has a tape deck) and decided to give it a try. I was glued.

The Rebbe speaks in such a powerful, forceful way about the tremendous achrayus, and even greater zechus, of the Nshei U bnos Yisroel. I was amazed at the way the Rebbe actually screamed when speaking about the importance of tznius, even while saying everything in a positive way. The Rebbe speaks so strongly about the wonderful benefits proper tznius in all areas will have on our children and their children for generations.

The Rebbetzin was an extremely tzanua person. Even just speaking about her seems almost against her wishes, are we, by publicizing the greatness of her modesty, missing the point? that she was so beautifully hidden, even that was hidden?

But this question was answered by the Rebbe himself. The Rebbe told us about the Rebbetzin so that we may see how a true queen acts, so that we may model ourselves after her.

As i listened to the tape, and read the letters the Rebbe wrote to nshei u bnos yisroel in the year following the Rebbetzins passing, i came to realize that the proper hachana for this intense inspiration is to strengthen in my tznius- this is so obviously something that the Rebbe stressed so emphatically an the Rebbetzin demonstrated so absolutely.

We are currently in the parshios of yetziyas mitzrayim and kabalas hatorah. The Jews of mitzrayim, the most immoral place, even as they sank to the 49th level of tumah, maintained their modest dress, and in this merit they were redeemed.

May we be zoche to greet Moshiach Now- in the merit of the women!