11th Yahrzeit of Reb Mendel

Today, Friday the fourth of Tamuz is the 11th yahrzeit of the unforgettable “mashpia” Rabbi Mendel Futerfass OBM. Rabbi Futerfass was incarcerated in a Russian prison for many years for his spreading Yiddishkeit in Communist Russia and was released and let out of Russia in the early 1960’s.

Rabbi Futerfass was a very close and devoted chosid to the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe. In a letter (see below) from the Rebbe to Rabbi Futefass the Rebbe uses very rare titles describing Reb Mendel’s devotion to the Rebbeim.

Once on a day whose date had some connection with the Tzemach Tzedek when Reb Mendel passed by the Rebbe in line to receive a dollar, the Rebbe said to him: My name is Menacehm Mendel and your name is Menacehm Mendel may it be “those who repose in the dust will awaken.”

Following are two letters – one to Rabbi Futerfass’s wife from the Previous Rebbe and one in 1960 from the Rebbe.