Weekly Letter: The Rebbe’s Memories of his Birthplace and the Turbulent Times

With the focus of the news today on Ukraine and the invasion by Russia, we share a letter to an author of a book about Ukraine, which evokes the Rebbe’s memories of his birthplace and the turbulent times in those days, after the Revolution.

The Rebbe makes some comments in connection with the content of the book – about the Ukrainian Socialists, their positions on Jews and its relevance to the Holy Land.\

By the Grace of G-d                 

                                                                                                                                                Chanukah, 5737

                                                                                                                                                Brooklyn, N, Y.

Mr.

Denver, Colo. 80221 

Greeting and Blessing:

I was pleased to receive your book, which you were good enough to send me at the suggestion of our mutual friend, Prof.

Needless to say, your book evoked memories of my birthplace, the Ukraine, which is no doubt also your native land. And though I left it years after the Revolution, I vividly recall those turbulent years. For this reason I took time out of my busy schedule to look through your book though the subject is not my field. May I commend you on the effort which you put into the said work.   

I trust you will not mind my making several observations in passing. 

Re Bibliography – almost all the titles are given in Ukrainian, though many of the cited reference texts were surely written in other languages as evidenced also from the first section of the book. It would have made it easier for readers and students to see the titles in their original languages.

A further point. I should have hoped that a prominent Ukrainian Jewish socialist had written on the attitude of the Ukrainian socialists to Jews, or, at any rate, to Jewish socialists. However, from his brief biography it would seem that he had nothing to say on this question. As I recall it was a painful let down and disappointment when quite a number of Ukrainian socialists appeared as active participants in the dreadful pogroms.

This matter is not merely of academic interest but quite relevant to the present. For, unfortunately, there are still some prominent Jewish socialists who place their trust in socialist countries and leaders, in the hope that belonging to the same party and “brotherhood” would discourage anti-Semitism.  Having, apparently, learnt nothing from history, contemporary Jewish socialist leaders still base crucial policy decisions on this misplaced trust.

Be it as it may, if there is among his writings or manuscripts any material that has a bearing on this subject, I hope you will publish it by way of a supplement to your book, or as a separate study, to assess the position of the Ukrainian socialists vis-a-vis the Jewish question, and, for that matter, of those other countries, including Germany.

I need hardly explain that the subject is of timely and practical importance since it affects the policy making process  of socialist leaders in Eretz Yisrael who still nurture hopes in their colleagues in Austria, Scandinavia and elsewhere, and in their Jewish counterparts – despite past disappointments. 

I cannot bypass the opportunity without mentioning that Jewish experience in our own times has again, and all too sadly, confirmed the truth of the statement: “This (Jewish people) is a people that will dwell alone, and will not be recognized among the nations” (Num. 23:9). The sooner Jewish leaders, and Jews generally, realize that we cannot rely on the “kindness of nations,” the better will be our chances to dwell in security. It is vitally necessary that Jews everywhere should turn their hearts and minds inwardly, and strengthen their identification with our great historic spiritual heritage, which has been the real unifying force of our Jewish people and has preserved our people through the ages – a tiny minority in a hostile world.

This is also the eternal lesson of Chanukah, which we are now celebrating, the history and s significance of which you surely know.

                              Wishing you a bright and inspiring Festival of Lights,

                              With blessing,

P. S. One item in the Bibliography particularly attracted my attention, namely No. 105, which appears to refer to the religious life in the Holy Land. It brought to my mind, as I recall it, the time when the Duma of all the Ukraine was convened in Kiev, followed by s convention of Jewish leaders, among them communal leaders and Rabbis, also in Kiev. Surprisingly, these events are also not dealt with in your book, although being of the Poalei Zion you probably had closer contacts with Jewish circles.