Weekly Story: The Frierdiker Rebbe’s First Visit To Chicago
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
As noted in previous posts I am in midst of researching and writing a biography on the Frierdiker Rebbe. In this weeks’ post I am writing about his first visit to Chicago, which took place during his ten month visit to America in 5690 (1930). One of the main reasons I am posting it is to ask each individual who reads this, if you have any additional information about this visit or about his life, to please share it with me, so that I may include it in the final draft.
This chapter is mainly based on Toldos Yemei Chabad in America by Rabbi Berel Levin and the introduction to Sefer HaSichos 5690 (which includes some otherwise unpublished letters of the Frierdiker Rebbe) by Rabbi Aharon Leib Raskin.
Your feedback is always appreciated.
At this point, I wrote around 750 pages of his biography, out of what I believe would be over 1000 pages.
The first city in the Midwest that the Rebbe went to was Chicago, Illinois, where he spent ten weeks there. He was there from Sunday, the 11th of Shevat (Feb 10, 1930) until Sunday the 29th of Nissan (April 27). At that time, outside of New York, Chicago, had the largest community/concentration of Lubavitcher chassidim in America.
The Rebbe left New York by train on motzei Shabbos and arrived in Chicago at 3:30 in the afternoon. He was accompanied by his son-in-law, the Rashag (Rabbi Gurary), his uncle Reb Moshe HaKohen Horenstein, Rabbi Havlin, and his two secretaries Reb Chatsha Feigin hy”d and Reb Chaim Liberman.
The visit was arranged and coordinated by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Elkin (a Rov in Chicago) and the welcoming committee he put together. The throng of thousands of Jews who came to greet the Rebbe at the station, overwhelmed the police that it took an half hour for them to make a path for the Rebbe to come out of the train and be able to address the crowd.
Obviously many of those who came to greet the Rebbe were Lubavitcher chassidim. in the Courier they wrote about they overheard from an elderly chossid in his eighties who was telling his sons and grandson that he remembers the radiant countenance of the Rebbe’s grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash, as well of the Rebbe’s father, the Rebbe Rashab, and now Boruch Hashem he is meriting to see the Rebbe. He then broke out in a dance with the vigor of a young man. When the Rebbe emerged from the train that chossid loudly pronounced the brocha of She’hechiyanu for all to hear.
However, most of the Jews that came to greet him were not his chassidim, but they came to greet and honor the Jew who stood up for Judaism against the Communist regime. This was a point that the welcoming committee publicized that the Rebbe is not just the Rebbe of his chassidim, but he is the leader of all Russian Jewry. Therefore there were Jews from different communities and movements, even some who were not observant.
Once the police managed to get the Rebbe to the automobile that would drive him to the residence where he would be staying, people jumped into their own cars and a parade of hundreds of cars led by police on motorcycles escorted the Rebbe. All along the way were groups of Jews standing by the road hoping that they will merit seeing and greeting the Rebbe.
When they motorcade arrived at the residence he would be staying, there were a few thousand additional Jews waiting for him. The crowd was so large that some of the rabbonim and prominent individuals who were invited to greet the Rebbe couldn’t make their way through, and had to greet the Rebbe later on during his ten week visit. The Rebbe greeted/addressed them saying that the warm reception is not in his honor, but in honor of all the Jews he is representing.
Before entering the house, the Rebbe asked his host Mr. Moshe Gilman if he can enter.
At this moment, the house is the Rebbe’s and the chassidim, it is not mine, replied Mr. Gilman. The question is if I will be able to enter, he said smiling.
Almost every day the Rebbe was there he received Jews who came to speak with him in a yechidus (a private meeting) and also participated and spoke at many communal gatherings/functions.
One of the people with whom the Rebbe met (on the 17th of Adar), was Congressman Adolph Sabath, to thank him for interceding with the Communist authorities and pressuring them to release eleven of the rabbonim they arrested in Minsk. If not for your timely intervention the outcome could have been very different. They also discussed the plight of three that were not freed and what can be done to help them and all the Jews in Russia.
On Sunday the 2nd of Adar, (three weeks after the Rebbe arrived), there was an official reception in the large Anshei Keneses Yisroel shul. Four thousand people managed to get in and many more remained outside. There the Rebbe stated, that while you all want to hear how your brother and sisters in Russia are faring, they really want to hear that their plight motivated you to help them financially (and not merely with a sigh).
As in every city he visited he spoke about the importance of Taharas HaMishpacha and gave out the booklet that Dr. Smithline wrote on it from a medical perspective. He also impressed upon them the importance and necessity to give their children a Jewish education. At the same time he encouraged the adults to learn and established a weekly class in gemorah study that continued for many years.
It is said that sometime during this visit the chassidim asked the Rebbe to remain and settle in Chicago, but the Rebbe replied, now is not the time. However, when the time comes there will have to be a yeshiva in the spirit of Tomchei Tmimim first.
While he was there he went for three days to Milwaukee Wisconsin (from the 9th of Adar through the 11th).
Being that he was in Chicago and won’t be with most of the chassidim for Beis Nissan, (the 10th yahrzeit of his father), he published two maamorim a week after arriving in Chicago which were mailed to many communities in America as well as to the chassidim in Riga and elsewhere. They are the maamorim of Ani Yesheina V’Libi Ohr and the maamar Simani Kichoisem (which expounds and clarifies many concepts of the previous maamar). They were to be learned on Beis Nissan the 10th yahrzeit of his father the Rebbe Rashab.
On the eve of Beis Nissan the Rebbe was invited to a banquet which was attended by two hundred people. The Rebbe spoke for ten to twelve minutes. He said; “Concerning the Jews in Russia, we feel bad and pity them for their physical suffering. However, when it comes to their pride and strength in their Jewishness they are complete.
Whereas, the Jews in America, although they may be comfortable in their day to day life, their spiritual life is lacking, and on them is the true pity. Where is the pride of being a Jew?! The mindset of American Jewry must change and it will change!
On motzei Shabos before the Rebbe left there was an tzeischem L’sholom gathering in a Lubavitcher shul. The Rebbe explained that Chassidus shows a person who was given free choice, and if not utilized poroperly can sink and act worse than an animal. He can lie and slander someone worse than a snake, he can be jealous and angry at someone worse than a wild animal. But with learning Chassidus he can elevate and refine himself.
He then requested that in this Lubavitcher shul and indeed in every shul they should begin saying the daily portion of tehillim. Additionally, those who consider themselves chassidim, should not let a day go by without learning some Chumash and Rashi.
He then said, when a person travels he purchases a ticket for his destination or station. In life everyone wants to reach and get somewhere. However, we have to know what our station (destination or goal) is. There is a station Tefillin, a station Kosher, a station Shabbos and a station Taharas Hamishpacha. To travel without knowing what your destination (station) is, is problematic.
Chart your family’s destination in the Jewish way.
May you all be well!
When the Rebbe was continuing onto his journey, going to Detroit Michigan, a group of Rabbonim and individuals escorted the Rebbe to the train station. Before the Rebbe boarded they remarked that the Rebbe’s visit will be enshrined in their mind forever.
The Rebbe replied, “When I learn and you learn, we will remember each other.”
Although even the chassidim weren’t so knowledgeable in Chassidus, the Rebbe said maamorim (on a weekly basis). While many of them were said in a way that did not demand previous knowledge of Chassidus, he notes that some of them were deep concepts. Sadly there is no recordings of some of them.
The following is the list of maamorim he said:
On Friday night of Parshas Beshalach he said the maamar Di’ooo ki Hashem hoo Elokim.
On motzei Shabbos parshas Yisro he said the maamar of Anochi Hashem Elokeicho.
During the Friday night parshas mishpotim, (the 1st day of Rosh chodesh Adar) meal, he explained the possuk of V’eleh hamishpotim according to Chassidus and on motzei Shabbos he said the maamar, Im kesef talveh.
On Wednesday the 5th of Adar there was a gathering of Chabad chassidim where the Rebbe explained the concept of the Beis HaMikdash and korbonos.
On Sunday the 9th of Adar the Rebbe went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a few days. On Monday he said the maamar Vayuvei Amalek. The following day there was a gathering of chassidim. in addition to the sichos he also said the maamar Rava Chazeh L’Rav Hamnunah. He returned to Chicago on Wednesday, the 12th of Adar.
Friday night (during the Shabbos meal) he said the maamar Zochor ehs asher usah lechu Amalek.
Motzei Shabbos parshas Ki sissa he said the maamar Mayim Rabim.
On Shabbos parshas Vayekhel Pekudei (29th of Adar) he said the maamar Yichayenu M’yomayim and on Beis Nissan he said the maamar Mah Yufis.
On Shabbos parshas Vayikra (the 6th of Nissan) he said the maamar U’mayuhn mibeis Hashem.
On the last day of Pesach he said the maamar Borei Niv sifsusayim and on motzei Shabbos parshas Shemini he said the maamar Kol Hamaarich B’Echad.
Motzei Shabbos parshas Shemini he said the maamar Kol Hamaarich B’Echad.
Of the sichos that he said, we only have snippets of a few of them in Sefer HaSichos.
This weeks’ post is l’zechus Schneur Zalman ben Shterna Sarah who is undergoing a surgery this Sunday. Please say capital 20 and 29. Thank you
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of many books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
