Shliach tells Eye-Witness Account

Who better to vividly and accurately recount an event as significant as the Frierdiker Rebbe’s arrival to America than someone who was a bochur in 770 in that era?

While books and articles give factual information of the events relating to the 9th of Adar 5700 (1940), having it described from a personal perspective and involvement from someone who was actually there brings the story to life.

We were privileged to hear from such a person who also took us on a journey through the next 10 years of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s life in New York.

Rabbi Dovid Edelman and his Rebbetzin, senior shluchim of Springfield, Massachusetts, had graciously accepted the invitation to address the students of Ohel Chana Seminary while visiting the “land down under” for a family Simcha. Rabbi and Mrs. Edelman were sent as Shluchim of the Frierdiker Rebbe, and have continued under our Rebbe’s nesius till today.

Rabbi Edelman vividly described the vast number of people anxiously waiting at the shipping docks to welcome the Frierdiker Rebbe to America. At the time he couldn’t possibly imagine anyone else deserving of such a welcome as that which greeted the Rebbe’s ship. He recounted in great detail our own Rebbe’s arrival along with Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka on Chof Ches Sivan 5701(1941) – he was privileged to be one of the Bochrim hand picked by the Friediker Rebbe to greet the Rebbe at the ship. Rabbi Edelman described how the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, upon arriving in New York, were unable to find suitable housing and therefore temporarily lived upstairs in 770. Being a bachur in the ’40’s, you might say that Rabbi Edelman literally watched 770 develop from its raw beginnings to the international centre it is today; from initially housing the living quarters of the Rebbe to housing the World Chabad headquarters and “home base” for thousands of Chassidim and shluchim for the last 70 years.

As he addressed the 55 young women of Ohel Chana from cities all around the world, Rabbi Edelman proudly stated: “I have been privileged to meet every Rebbetzin dating from Rebbetzin Shterna Sara (wife of the Rebbe Rashab the 5th Lubavither Rebbe)”. Rabbi Edelman began to give the girls an intimate glimpse into his relationship with the Rebbe’s family.

Arriving in America at quite an advanced age, Rebbetzin Shterna Sara (mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe) remained, for the most part, upstairs in her living quarters in 770. On one rare occasion, she was seen downstairs among the crowd. When asked about this unusual behavior, she solemnly replied: “Everyone comes from around the whole world to see my son – I shouldn’t also come to see him?”

Her daughter-in-law, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina was described by Rabbi Edelman as “an amazing Balabuste.” Always impeccably dressed, she was described as having a queen-like grace. It was she who made sure their table always hosted guests. Setting herself very high standards, her house and table were set to perfection. Towards the end of her life, Nechama Dina became hearing impaired, but this did not stop her in the slightest. In Rabbi Edelman’s words: “she still ran the place.” With utmost confidence the Rebbetzin would carry around a notepad and pen to communicate just as before. Rabbi Edelman spoke of a special connection he had with The Friediker Rebbe’s wife. Since he was the only out-of-town bachur in New York at the time, she saved a special place for him. She always made sure he had a place to eat, and, when appropriate, slipped him into a farbrengen or meal upstairs with the Rebbe, something he would otherwise not be permitted to do. Many times, thanks to the efforts of Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, he found himself at gatherings in the company of distinguished elder Chassidim.

After recounting many inspiring stories of both Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka and Rebbetzin Chana, Rabbi Edelman concluded by relating what he personally witnessed as the utmost and ultimate respect the Rebbe showed to his mother, Rebbetzin Chana. When she would come to visit the Rebbe in 770, besides escorting her to the door, one would always catch the Rebbe watching his mother walking down the street until she turned a corner and was no longer in his line of vision.

The students of Ohel Chana truly appreciated Rabbi and Rebbetzin Edelman for sharing some of their gems and inspiring them as “Dem Rebben’s Kinder” and wished them a safe flight home and much continued brachos and Hatzlacha in their shlichus.