Weekly Story: The Historic Visit to America

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

In continuation to the description of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s trip to Eretz Yisroel, which I posted last month, I am now presenting the story of his historic visit to America, which began a few weeks after he returned from Eretz Yisroel. As noted there, towards the end of his journey in Eretz Yisroel he wasn’t feeling well and after he heard about the massacre of Chevron he became ill. So after his return to Europe, he went to recuperate in Badon, Germany and was there for 13 days, from the 22nd of Av through Monday the 4th of Elul.

On Monday evening the Frierdiker Rebbe accompanied by the Rashag and Reb Mordechai Dubin[1] hy”d left for Paris.  On Wednesday the 6th of Elul they left Paris to Hover? where his uncle Reb Moshe Hacohen Horenstein joined them for the trip.

A few days earlier two of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s secretaries, Reb Yechezkel Feigin hy”d and Reb Chaim Liberman also went to America to help make the proper arrangements for the Rebbe there.

However, before we begin discussing the trip, we need to understand the situation of Jewish life and of Chabad-Lubavitch in America at that time. Why was he going and to whom he was going.

In general there were two waves of Jewish emigration to America. The first one took place between the years of 1840 and 1880, and that was predominately from Germany and other European countries. The second one was from 1880-1924 and that was predominantly from Russia.

The German Jews brought with them their philosophy of assimilation and created the reform movement in America. So when the Jews of Russia came, many of them wanted to maintain a religious standard, however, they realized that it was not so easy as the Reform movement was the main Jewish community in America at that time.

In larger communities they established shuls and shtieblach and many were named by the city they came from as Anshei Liozna, Anshei Babroisk etc. Therefore many of the shuls of Russian immigrants were Nusach Ari shuls.[2] However, those who ended up in smaller communities had no religious structure to connect to.

We have access to the letters of some chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab who came during those years, and in many of them they bemoan the fact that they left Russia as the situation in America make it almost impossible to raise children who will be shomer Shabbos etc.

But while many of them came against the Rebbe’s wishes, some were instructed to come and played a role in establishing Lubavitch in America.

OBVIOUSLY I AM GOING TO INADVERTANTLY MISS CERTAIN NAMES AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WILL HELP COMPLETE THE INFORMATION. I MAY HAVE NOT KNOWN ABOUT THEM AT ALL OR I HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THEM, WHETHER THEY WERE TMIMIM OR JUST EHRLICHE JEWS WHO HELPED THE REBBE.

Additionally, even those that I am mentioning, I am not sure if the Rebbe Rashab or the Frierdiker Rebbe sent them to America, agreed that they can come, or if they came without informing him. Evidently there were some in each category.

One of the most famous ones is Reb Dovid Moshe Rabinowitz [commonly referred to as the RaDa”M]. He came to America in 5656 (1896) and settled in Boston. He was a Rov there for forty-seven years and passed away in 5703 (1943). In 5687 (1927) when he heard that the Frierdiker Rebbe was arrested, he sent his son Oscar to Washington to speak with Justice Louis Brandies of the Supreme Court, who was from Boston and was on first name basis to them. Indeed Justice Brandeis spearheaded the American effort to save the Frierdiker Rebbe.

In 5696 (1936) when RaDa”M went to Eretz Yisroel to daven at kivrei tzaddikim, he used the opportunity to stop off and visit the Rebbe in Otwock, Poland and checked out the yeshiva in Warsaw. When he returned to America he began taking an active role in fundraising on behalf of Tomchei Tmimim and the Rebbe’s activities. So when the Rebbe visited Baltimore and Washington DC during Teves of 5690 (1930) he was part of the organizing committee.

In Washington DC there was also one of the original Tmimim, Rabbi Chaim Oizer Dubrow who was a Rov in Kesher Yisroel from 5685 (1925) until 5705 (1955).

Another notable chossid and Rov in Baltimore was Rabbi Avrohom Eliyahu Axelrod. He was a Tomim in Lubavitch and arrived in the United States in 5684 (1923).[3] The Frierdiker Rebbe said about him he never picked up his head to see the tall buildings. However, many of the chassidim and Tmimim were lone soldiers, one or two to a city. The exceptions were those who settled in larger communities such as New York and Chicago where there were numerous ones.

In New York one of the first chassidim was Reb Avrohom Chaim Rosenbaum, he arrived in 5652-3 (1992-3), as he had to flee from Russia because he was accused of helping Jews avoid the army. He was the head of Agudas Chabad until his passing in 5674 (1914). After his petira, his friend Reb Dovid Shifrin became the spokesman.

Reb Dovid’s brother-in-law was Reb Avrohom Hacohen Morinson. His children had settled in St. Paul, Minnesota and convinced him to join him promising that he can keep all of his hiddurim. He had a friend Reb Yehuda Leib Aronin who was the shochet in Cheboygan, Michigan who affirmed that in America one is free to practice his religion as he wishes.

He arrived in the winter of 5666 (1906), however, after being here for a short time he bemoaned the fact that he came, it was so hard to see that his children lost all connection to Torah and Mitzvos, etc and wanted to return. However, his wife wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t make the journey so he remained lamenting his decision. Years later he wrote that it is twenty years since he davened with a minyan, and there is no one to learn with.

However, we should note that some Tmimim who were in small cities in America stood up and created a Jewish environment in their new place of living. Reb Chaim Itkin,[4] one of the early Tmimim received an affidavit from his relatives in Pennsylvania, but shortly afterwards in the mid 1920’s settled in Marshall Town, Iowa, and made a day school or Talmud Torah.

Reb Eliyahu Simpson came in 5683 (1923).[5]

Reb Menachem Mendel Leib Lokshin

Reb Moshe DovBer Rivkin came in 5688 (1928).

Reb Tzvi Baksin

Rabbi Kastel in 5690 (1930) during the Rebbe’s visit here.

In 5684 (1924), the Frierdiker Rebbe encouraged and implored the chassidim in America to establish an organization of Chassidei Chabad. Its goal was two-fold. One was that the chassidim in America help each other. If you know of a shul that is looking for a Rov, or a community that needs a shochet etc., perhaps one of the Tmimim are appropriate for that position. Furthermore, they should help each other spiritually as well, by establishing weekly classes or study groups to learn Chassidus. Additionally, they should not only contribute to the Rebbe’s fund to help Russian Jewry (and the yeshiva), but they should bring this arousal to American Jewry at large, with a special focus on swaying the board of directors of the Joint.

The chassidim took the Frierdiker Rebbe’s words to heart and in Cheshvan of 5686 (1925), the Rebbe wrote to Reb Shmuel Yekusiel Kramer thanking him for approaching and convincing Dr. Rosen of the Loint to help Russian Jewry with large sums of money.[6]

The Chassidim heeded the Rebbe’s call and on – 5684 (July 22, 1924) they legally incorporated Agudas HaChassidim Anshei Chabad, (which was later changed to Agudas Chassidei Chabad).  The President of the corporation was Reb Moshe Eliezer Kramer. When he passed away the following year, at the lavaya his oldest son Reb Chaim Schneur Zalman[7] accepted to continue his father’s work.[8]

In addition of establishing a legal entity of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the Frierdiker Rebbe also encouraged them to establish an agudas HaTmimim, to encourage each other to continue learning Chassidus on a regular basis.

This was extremely helpful as additional chassidim came to New York there was an already established shiurim and a support group for those who were living on their own. As we see in later years the names on the list grew adding Reb Chaim Daniel Fogelman, Reb Shneiderman from Philadelphia, and Reb Avrohom HaLevi Popack from Vermont.

Reb Yisroel Jacobson came during the year 5685 (1925), and the thought was that he would work on obtaining visas for additional chassidim. However, unbeknown to them Rabbi Jacobson himself was lucky to receive a visa, as the Immigration act of 1924 severely limited the immigration from Russia, and although he tried, his efforts were in general stymied. He did succeed to in obtaining visas for some including Reb Eliyahu Nochum Sklar in 5691 (1931) and Reb Sholom Posner in/around 5690 (1930).

The connection between the Rebbeim and the chassidim in America began in the final years of the Rebbe Rashab. Reb Shmuel Levitan said he heard the Rebbe Rashab state that he is interested in seeing how the Jews in America are doing and how he can help.

In Iyar of 5687 (1927),  the Frierdiker Rebbe’s secretary, Reb Chaim Liberman informed Reb Dovid Shifrin that he sends a copy of the maamorim to the following rabbonim: Menachem Mendel Lokshin, Eliyahu Simpson, Gershon Simpson, Avner Shifrin, Hillel Jacobson, Yisroel Jacobson, Eichinhorn, Yosef Katzenlison, Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky in Rochester,[9] Rabinowitz in Boston, Zev Kazinetz, as well as to him himself.

They all played an integral part in obtaining the Rebbe’s freedom in 5627 (1927). Rabbi Kazarnowsky who had arrived in America just a few months earlier spoke to the congressman of Rochester, Mr. Jacobstein who was extremely close to the influential Senator Thomas Francis Bayard Jr. of Delaware who was on a committee with the two senators from New York, Royal S, Copeland and Robert F. Wagner, and they promised to utilize their connections with the Russians to help save the Rebbe.

 

Rabbi Yehudah Leib Horowitz of Boston spoke daily with Rabbi Rabinowitz who was in contact with Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who used his considerable influence to galvanize the state department  to demand the Rebbe’s release.

After his release from prison and move to Riga, Latvia, in Tishrei of 5688 (1927) the chassidim wrote to the Rebbe requesting that he comes to Ameica at least for a visit. On the 27th of Nissan of the following year, the Rebbe wrote a letter that he decided to fulfill their request and visit for some time.

Bezras Hashem next week we will post about his actual coming and visit.

This week’s post is lezuchus the complete and immediate refuah for my sister Chaya Rivkah bas Cheyena among all cholei Yisroel.

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com

[1] Reb Mordechai Dubin was a member of the Latvian Parliament and he played a major role in pressuring and  convincing the Russian government to allow the Rebbe to move to Riga after he was freed from his imprisonment.

[2] This played a role in saving the Frierdiker Rebbe later from the inferno of WWII, as members of Congress were informed that he was the head of over the three hundred Nusach Ari synagogues in America, with tens of thousands members and VOTERS.

[3] His father Reb Aharon Shlomo came to America a few years earlier and was a Rov in Marrienta.

[4] I chose to mention him in honor of his daughter, who hosted me every Shabbos when I was learning out of town.

[5] His brother and fellow Tomim Reb Gershon also came somewhat earlier.

[6] This will be discussed in another chapter.

[7] Known as ChaZaK (Chaim Zalman Kramer). Interesting to note that the family Kramer originated from the town Kozlin and there was a famous chossid called Chazak Kozliner, I don’t know if they were related.

[8] Reb Moshe Eliezer HaLevi was the son of Reb Yechiel Michel of Kurenitz, who would visit the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek and then the Rebbe Maharash.

[9] Interesting to note, that when his brother informed him that he obtained a visa for him, Reb Shlomo Aharon asked the Frierdiker Rebbe if he shoud take his family to America. The Rebbe replied, Yes and we shall meet again. Reb Shlomo Aharon asked, “Where [will we meet]?” and the Rebbe replied “there[in America].”