44 Sivan 5778

Quiet Diplomacy THE REBBE’S BATTLE TO SAVE RUSSIAN JEWRY SIVAN 5778 44 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER לזכות הרה״ת ר׳ ישראל מנחם וזוגתו מרת חי׳ אסתר טובא ומשפחתם שיחיו ריטשלער Quiet Diplomacy THE REBBE’S BATTLE TO SAVE RUSSIAN JEWRY SIVAN 5778 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 45 Penetrating the persecuted, until it went almost for a handful of Yidden who Impenetrable completely silent. What became managed to escape in a special For many generations, known as the “Iron Curtain” operation shortly after the war, the Jewish community in was sealed shut, and it became leaving the country proved to be Russia was one of the biggest a crime even to try to leave impossible. throughout the world. As the the clutches of the oppressive A world away in Crown Rebbe pointed out, that area was regime. Heights, the Rebbe never Throughout all those years, ceased to act, speak, and cry רוב מנין ורוב“ actually home to the majority of the Jewish Lubavitcher Chassidim held on behalf of Russian Jewry. At—“בנין community both in numbers, a clandestine network of almost every major farbrengen, as well as when measuring by underground Jewish activity, the Rebbe would say a special importance. After all, it was guided and encouraged “l’chaim” for them, blessing them there that the Baal Shem Tov was (sometimes in the most that very soon they’ll merit a born and began the revelation of miraculous of ways) by the complete geula from their bitter Chassidus. Rebbe in New York. predicament. But for most of the twentieth For decades, leaving the Finally, at the end of the century, the immense Jewish Soviet Union for most Jews was 5710s, small amounts of Yidden population was tormented and an unattainable fantasy. Aside were able to trickle out and 10 SHEVAT 5735, JEM 102927 5735, 10 SHEVAT SIVAN 5778 46 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER penetrate the curtain to freedom. of those who tried obtaining In a letter written to the visas lost their jobs, were administration of Tzach in Eretz interrogated and sent to prison. Yisroel in 5716 (Igros Kodesh It was during this period that vol. 12, p. 154), the Rebbe urges demonstrations for the Jews of them to use the opportunity and Russia became the most popular do all they can to help Yidden Jewish cause worldwide, with get out of Russia. (“Remember huge events taking place in what the Torah says about a ger,” Washington, Tel Aviv and other the Rebbe writes candidly, “and capitals throughout the world. the reason why we need to be One might think that this was a positive development: Jewish —כי גרים הייתם :sensitive to him you yourselves were strangers people were finally expressing in Mitzrayim. The analogy is solidarity with their brothers obvious…” I.e. the Rebbe was in exile and pushing for them telling the Chassidim in Kfar to be released. In fact, most of Chabad, most of whom were the Jewish establishment was themselves immigrants from on board with the movement. Russia, to remember what it felt “Let my people go!” they like being trapped behind the proclaimed, as they sought to A SOVET VISA. Iron Curtain.) isolate the Soviet government Yidden to receive their needs for At the same time, the until they would open the doors Pesach, the Rebbe emphasized Rebbe warned that all efforts to immigration. that he was only asking them in persuading the Russian The Rebbe was the single to delay the demonstrations government to allow people to voice against these protests. temporarily, with the leave should be done in a calm As he would later articulate at expectation that the Russians and civilized manner. (Igros length at various farbrengens, would reciprocate. If no further Kodesh vol. 12, p. 312). the Rebbe said that public demonstrations were held, the Then as the 5720s progressed, pressure was only serving to Rebbe said, he had information the situation seemed to be antagonize the Russians and that 5000 Jews would be freed easing. In 5726, some families causing them to harden their that year (a bold statement were able to leave. (See Igros stance. Furthermore, it was when immigration from Russia Kodesh vol. 24, p. 49, “Now is endangering the lives of millions at the time numbered in the an opportune time to receive a of Russian Jews, who were hundreds). If this doesn’t work, permit to leave…”) hostages of the Communist the Rebbe added, you can always Then came the Six-Day War. regime. Shortly after the first continue the demonstrations • major demonstration was held after Shavuos. The Rebbe The victory of the Six-Day in New York in 5729, the Rebbe completed his words by saying, War in 5727 raised Jewish pride summoned Mr. Yoram Dinstein, “This is my request from the throughout the Soviet Union. a member of the Israeli consulate Israeli government.” Many began to openly identify and Mossad, along with Mr. Zvi Mr. Dinstein wrote up a themselves as Jews, and there Kaspi, to a yechidus.1 detailed memo of the yechidus was a surge in the amount of The Rebbe told them that, and sent it to his superior, who people trying to emigrate to in his opinion, any further in turn brought it up to Prime Eretz Yisroel. But the difficulties demonstrations should be held Minister Levi Eshkol. After two of living in Russia grew in off for the time being. Noting weeks, Mr. Dinstein returned tandem: following the Arab that Pesach was coming around to the Rebbe—together with a nations’ defeat, Soviet Russia cut the corner and that the channels higher-up in the Mossad, Mr. ties with Eretz Yisroel and many needed to remain open for the Nechemia Levanon—to relay SIVAN 5778 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 47 seventeen refuseniks hatched a plan to hijack a plane out of the Soviet Union. They were caught by the KGB as soon as they arrived at the airport, and two of them were subsequently sentenced to death. Following demonstrations in Jewish communities around the world, their death sentences were commuted to hard labor. In addition to galvanizing the Jewish community to demonstrate, this episode proved (according to them) that the pressure was effective. As DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION IN ISRAEL. the demonstrations continued throughout the following years, that the Israeli government had press-releases and in at least one more and more Jews were freed decided to continue with the Shabbos farbrengen in 5730, but from the Soviet Union and the demonstrations, against the it remained relatively muted. refuseniks asked the Jews in the Rebbe’s advice. Finally, at the farbrengen of Yud diaspora to raise awareness for In their recollection of Shevat 5731, the Rebbe came out their plight, not to allow their the yechidus, the two officials against it publicly, in two long suffering to pass in silence. noted that the Rebbe was very sichos that were heard around disappointed, as he again laid the world. The Effectiveness of out the reasoning against the The Rebbe’s opinion on this Demonstrations demonstrations. The discussion matter went against the Israeli In this farbrengen,2 the turned heated at times but ended government and the entire Rebbe spoke with great anguish with the diplomats promising Jewish establishment. about the situation of the Jews to pass the information to their in Russia, and dissected the superiors. The False Narrative narrative of the protestors piece Prime Minister Eshkol died In order to appreciate by piece, showing their fallacies of a heart attack just ten days the Rebbe’s stance, one must on both a factual and a logical later. Mr. Dinstein says that first understand how others level. had he survived and heard portrayed the issue, with many The only actual effect the the Rebbe’s position again, the still erroneously seeing it this demonstrations were having, the government’s approach may way today. In their view, at Rebbe said, was that hundreds of have changed. But when Golda one point in the late 5720s, the people who had been promised Meir took over the government, Jewish world began to wake up exit-visas were now stuck in he says, it seems that the Rebbe to the plight of Russian Jewry, Russia. “People ask, how do realized that she wouldn’t be and more and more people I know that my approach is open to outside opinions, and he started demonstrating on behalf then correct one?” the Rebbe stopped pursuing this avenue. of their brethren. As the pressure said. “I will relate the story as The Rebbe would ratcheted up, the Russian it occurred—although it puts continue fighting the public government began allowing Jews Yidden in a negative light, I demonstrations on various to emigrate. no longer have a choice in the fronts for almost two years: in These efforts were given a matter. This was at the beginning yechidus’n with activists, letters, boost when, in 5730, a group of SIVAN 5778 48 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER of my work, in private, to stop the public demonstrations.” The Rebbe went on to speak publicly about his yechidus with the Israelis two years earlier (not mentioning any individuals by name), while explaining the background of the story. At the time, certain people in Eretz Yisroel were having daily telephone conversations with the Russian Jews, coordinating with them to arrange exit- visas. Matters had progressed to the extent that the Russian government had promised to give them exit-visas, and had even said that this would continue with more families it into consideration: [they it must be emphasized that, in the future. “When I found felt that] my information was contrary to public opinion out about this,” the Rebbe said, probably not correct, and the at the time, it wasn’t Jewish “I knew that those who were demonstrations would take place organizations behind these arranging the demonstrations on Erev Pesach.

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