Rabbi Sholom Ber Schapiro, Director of the Nissan Mindel Publications (NMP), presents “Historic Treasures.”
Each program shares ‘treasures’ from the archives of Rabbi Schapiro’s father-in-law, Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel OBM, a prolific writer who served as a personal secretary of the 6th and 7th Chabad Rebbes.
The program uncovers fascinating stories, rare artifacts and precious documents from the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
This week, in honor of Yud Alef Nissan, Rabbi Schapiro shares a series of fascinating documents.
One document is the Rebbe’s Pesach message in 1950 – right after Yud Shvat – with his many hand notations.
Also featured are telegrams, letters and typed instructions about the Pesach/Matzah campaign of the Frierdiker Rebbe in 1942.
Urgent Matzah campaign by the Frierdiker Rebbe – 1942
In the midst of the stormy world war years – shortly after his miraculous arrival to the shores of America – the Frierdiker Rebbe continued with his selfless efforts on behalf of his fellow Jews.
One such effort was his extraordinary matzah campaign for the Jews in Europe – mainly in Russia, including and especially the refugees from Poland.
These documents are a sample of the rebbe’s heroic efforts:
– A collection of telegrams (and letters) addressed to various rabbis and activists – with added typed instructions given to rabbi Nissan Mindel by the Frierdiker Rebbe, as well as the rebbe’s handwritten comment.
– Instructions specifically to:
Rabbi Moshe Gurary of Tel Aviv – who should see to sending the Pesach food and supplies to anash and temimim in Russia
Instructions also to Shlomo Palmer of Chicago, Il – to arrange the sending of Pesach provisions from Eretz Yisroel to the Jews in Russia. The funds should come from ma’os chittim (500 shekolim) for which the Rebbe will pay.
Make sure that Rabbi Haskin is aware of these facts – lack of matzah in Russia – and should get in touch with these rabbis – R’ Epstein, R’ Silver, R’ Mushkin, R’ Teller (which he did, sending them telegrams).
Telegram sent to distinguished rabbis – urging the immediate shipment of 60 tons of matza for Russian Jews, and to induce JOINT to fund this project with $100,000. these rabbis:
Chief Rabbi Joseph Hertz, London, England
Rabbi J. Abramsky, London, England
Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog, Jerusalem, Palestine
Chief Rabbi Uziel, Jerusalem, Palestine
Rabbi Joseph Dushinsky, Jerusalem, Palestine
Chief Rabbi Amiel, Tel Aviv, Palestine
First Pesach message from the Rebbe, 1950:
A letter by the Rebbe (the “Ramash”) with many of his handwritten notations, written shortly after yud shvat, 5750 – with a Pesach message:
In this letter, the Rebbe is instructing that the booklet which was just released in honor of Pesach should be distributed so as to benefit all yidden.
The Rebbe is encouraging us all to stay connected to the Frierdiker Rebbe – whose influence is felt even more so now – physically and spiritually – now that he is no longer confined and limited by the physical body.
This idea is what Pesach is about – being released from the limitations and confinements of Egypt and the message we need to internalize, as we prepare for Pesach. We should be cautious about the “clever one” who wants to prevent us from doing this.
The Frierdiker Rebbe is a living example throughout his life of this – to continuously rise. Not only in thought but also in action and even now, here – “his lips are moving with his rich maamorim, sichos and letters.”
By fulfilling his will – we will create the vessels to receive his high hash’po’os which he wishes to give us – thus we will truly be able to go out of our mitzrayim/confinements, even our spiritual limitations and certainly, the limitations of our human intellect and animal soul.
