By COLlive staff
Medallions minted at the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s request will be given to donors of the upcoming Great Parade to take place in two weeks.
The NCFJE organization, which has been holding the parade for 60 years now together with Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, said that it only 58 coins are left in their possession.
One side of the coin depicts the traditional Lag BaOmer bonfire, while the other has 770 Eastern Parkway, home to Lubavitch World Headquarters in front of which the parades were held.
The coin came about when on 13 Iyar 5750, five days prior to Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe turned to his secretary Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky and told him that at the upcoming parade, he would like distribute special coins to the children.
Upon investigating the possibilities of minting a coin—an unprecedented project of the Rebbe’s office—it became apparent that minting a coin is a long process which would normally take at least two months. After an exhaustive search, two mints agreed to try to produce the coin in less time but not deliverable in time for Sunday.
Upon receiving the update, the Rebbe responded that the project should be dropped, noting that “Just like you will receive reward for investigating the matter, so too etc.” (‘וכשם שמקבל שכר על החוק”ד כך כו), indicating that he was grateful for the failed effort.
The Rebbe then added that he was sorry “that I didn’t suggest this earlier.”
Unsettled by the Rebbe’s obvious distress, Rabbi Krinsky urged his assistants, Rabbis Hillel Dovid Krinsky and Yosef B. Friedman, to do whatever they can in order to get the job done and on time.
The two got to work and immersed themselves in learning the intricacies of minting a coin, creating artwork needed for the casting and engraving, and finding a mint that would not work on Shabbos yet strike the necessary quantity of coins to be ready by Sunday morning.
On Friday, Rabbi Krinsky notified the Rebbe that the coins will be ready and delivered early on Lag BaOmer morning, hours before the parade.
The Rebbe responded with obvious satisfaction and answered “May you have peace of mind in your endeavors the same way you provided me [peace of mind] with the above” (ותנוח דעתך בעניניו כמו שעשה לי בהנ”ל).
Rabbi Shaya Gansburg OBM, who has tirelessly helped pursue the issue and found the mint that has done the job, drove out to pick up the coins, loaded them into his car on Friday and came home just in time for Shabbos.
The coins were distributed at the parade. In recent years, they have been given out to those supporting the parades. Now, as mentioned, only 58 are left.
To obtain one of these special coins, bring your donation of $500 dollars to Lag BaOmer Headquarters – NCFJE at 824 Eastern Parkway or call 718-735-0200. You can also email info@thegreatparade.com.
can I mail the money?
They were touched by Rabbi JJ Hecht, Parade Chairman for many years and executive director of the NCFJE!
I don’t understand what’s so spacial about these coins the rebbe Did not give them out or tuch it ??
Before you write things, you should know what is going on.
Is that silver ?
Since the rebbe instituted Tzivos Hashem, they have been the forefront of rallies and lag baomer parades.
Seems like a little bit of politics and hard feelings from this years organizers, gives them the green light to totally disregard the org that kept the parade alive when it wasn’t so popular and “great”.
SB Baumgarten and Shim I Weinbaum ought to be at least mentioned and thanked for all the hard work the NCFJE is now calling their own!
was expecting a much higher price….considering the enormous cost of the parade…