The Beis A PERMANENT HOME ChabadFOR JEWISH LIFE

KISLEV 5778 18 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER לע"נ ר' יהודה ע"ה בן ר' משה יעקב ע"ה נלב"ע ר"ח כסלו התשנ"ט ת'נ'צ'ב'ה' נדפס ע"י בנו הרה"ת השליח ר' יוסף יצחק וזוגתו מרת ביילא רחל ומשפחתם שיחיו ביסטאן

KISLEV 5778 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 19 OF CALIFORNIA CHABAD

RABBI BRINGS THE THE KEY TO THE NEW CHABAD HOUSE IN BERKLEY.

“Feeling quite proud and accomplished,” Shlomo Cunin recalls, “we prepared to present the Rebbe with the key to the first Chabad House. To Therecord the occasion First for posterity, of Rabbi Many Hodakov instructed us to bring along a photographer. “We were ushered into the Rebbe’s room; the donor approached the Rebbe and handed him the key in a special case. “‘This is the key to the Chabad House.’ “The Rebbe looked up and asked, ‘To which one?’ “Surprised, the donor replied, ‘Rebbe, there is only one.’ “‘Don’t be so humble,’ the Rebbe answered, ‘from here it will spread north, south, east, and west.’”

KISLEV 5778 20 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER PART I SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS

A Campaign of a DifferentThe year 5746 Genre was a difficult one on the Chabad calendar. The ownership of the Rebbe’s library was in court, and Chassidim felt as if the very validity of the Rebbe’s nesius was being put on trial.1 The Rebbe did not attempt to downplay the severity of the issue. During sichos at the start of the battle and during the trial itself, the Rebbe spoke in pained tones about how this was a battle against the very concept of a Rebbe, referring back to the arrest and liberation of the Alter Rebbe, when the whole of Chassidus was put on trial. The response to a spiritual kitrug, the Rebbe said, is through a spiritual reawakening. As he had often done during hard times in the past, the Rebbe announced a new initiative, which would serve as an antidote to the dark gloom of the kitrug. This initiative, however, was different from all others. In the past, the Rebbe’s mivtzoim had focused on specific fields; there was the tefillin campaign, usually accomplished as a “mitzvah on the go.”2 There were initiatives that focused on unlike the shluchim of today who go transforming the Jewish home, such out armed with the experiences and as mezuzah, Shabbos candles,3 and What Did Shluchim Today, the word “shliach” is advice of thousands of their older bayis malei sefarim.4 And there were Do Until Then? synonymous with Chabad House. The peers, some of the early shluchim had campaigns to unite the whole Jewish first objective of every shliach moving a much more ambiguous idea of the nation, such as Rambam5 and the sifrei to a new town is to establish a Chabad specifics of their mission. Torah hakloli’im.6 House that will serve as the nerve When Rabbi Nachman Sudak, a”h, This new campaign didn’t focus center of his activities, and all other left for England in 5719, the Rebbe on one specific mitzvah or another; it institutions are an outgrowth of this instructed him to establish a branch went back to the core of the mission of base. of Merkos. When he asked which dor hashvii, of the Rebbe’s call to make However, this was not always the activities his Merkos branch should this world a place where the Aibershter case. do, the Rebbe replied, can dwell. The first shluchim sent by the “What should I tell you? There are This was the campaign of Batei Rebbe were sent on a mission of a thousands of things to do.” Chabad.7 broad and general nature. In fact, When Rabbi Avrohom Korf moved to Florida in 5721, he asked the Rebbe

KISLEV 5778 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 21 Today, the word shliach is synonymous with Chabad House. However, this

wasA few yearsnot later, always the case. another milestone was marked in the LUBAVITCH HOUSE, LONDON. establishment of Chabad Houses. what his mission was, and the Rebbe Rabbi Shlomo replied: Cunin, who had “Vu es felt in Yiddishkeit, if there is come to California an area of Yiddishkeit that is lacking, it in 5725, acquired a is your job to fill the void.”8 building to serve as Armed with a broad outline of their a Jewish home for mission, each shliach opened a branch students at UCLA. of Merkos and represented the Rebbe Because it was a in his city. In keeping with the Rebbe’s place for students instructions, the shluchim each found to “come home” their own way to contribute to the to, he decided to local Yiddishkeit. Some shluchim call it a “Chabad focused on Torah classes, some Hous e.” opened schools, while others held When they events on local college campuses, all presented the obviously with the close attention and Rebbe with the guidance of the Rebbe. key, as mentioned The concept of having a local center at the beginning for Chabad activities hadn’t yet taken of this article, the hold. Rebbe said that In 5725, this idea was discussed it would spread during a yechidus with Mr. Peter far and wide. Kalms,9 an activist close to the The Rebbe told shluchim in London. The “Lubavitch Rabbi Cunin to House” of London was in the early call all similar stages of construction, and the Rebbe institutions with told him that “the proposed new the name Chabad

Lubavitch House should not only be a House, so that it ARCHIVESJTA school, but a symbol and a center for would become THE JTA REPORTS ON HUNDREDS OF NEW CHABAD HOUSES TO BE OPENED. 17 KISLEV 5747. as many activities as possible.” like Gimbels—a many London’s permanent facility, famous more shluchim took up posts over the which hosted a wide range of Chabad department store chain at the time. 5730s and 40s, the idea of a Chabad activities, was created with the step Just as when someone arrives in a new House was no longer an anomaly; by step guidance of the Rebbe, and city he knows he can find Gimbels in nevertheless, it wasn’t a major focus brought the Rebbe a lot of nachas. the phone book, a Jew should know either. When speaking to young potential that the same holds true with Chabad shluchim, Rabbi Hodakov would tell Houses. As the years went by, Chabad them to visit London to learn from the The campaign for new Chabad Houses began to spring up in cities The Mivtza way things are run there. Houses, as mentioned earlier, began and countries around the world. As

KISLEV 5778 22 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER CHABAD OF CALIFORNIA CHABAD TWO LETTERS FROM THE REBBE TO THE FRIENDS OF LUBAVITCH IN CALIFORNIA, ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECEIPT OF THE KEYS TO THE TWO CHABAD HOUSES IN UCLA (19 ADAR 5729), AND BERKLEY (14 TAMMUZ 5732).

during the sefarim trial, and the Rebbe single person to join the Rebbe’s “Whoever will dedicate themselves continued speaking about it on a shluchim. Shlichus in these days is wholeheartedly to the avodas regular basis. a derech slula, a clear and open path, hashlichus of spreading Torah, A strong boost to the campaign which is within the ability of every single Yiddishkeit, and Chassidus through came in the beginning of 5747. On person, without exception! founding Chabad Houses will see this Simchas Torah, the Rebbe dedicated “Uv’chanuni na b’zos—test me on success for themselves!”10 an entire sicha to the importance of this: Throughout the following years, Chabad Houses, and declared the the topic of Chabad Houses—and mission of the year to be to establish shlichus—was never far from them all over the world. The Rebbe the Rebbe’s lips. A clear shift was pointed out the success of the existing noticeable during the Rebbe’s ones, and in powerful and energetic . From the 5730s, when tones, exhorted every single person to “Test me on the Rebbe announced many of the take part. this: Whoever mivtzoim, the Rebbe had often Thirty years earlier, the Rebbe dedicated the last sicha of farbrengens noted, one could have debated a will dedicate to the campaigns. The Rebbe would Chabad House’s potential for success. list each one of the mivtzoim, and But now, after so many years of themselves often focus on the most recent one, hafatzas hamaayanos with unbelievable or the one most relevant to that time growth and expansion, it is clear that wholeheartedly of year. Listening to those sichos, every place could and must have a to avodas Chassidim would be kept abreast of Chabad House. the Rebbe’s latest koch, and knew to “All that is left,” the Rebbe hashlichus, will plan their activities accordingly. continued, “is the decision for every see this success

KISLEV 5778 for themselves!” A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 23 From 5746-47 onward, many out to one individual Jew at a time, it every Jew, anywhere, at any time, as Chassidim noticed that the topic of automatically attracts many Jews. Rabbi Shlomo Cunin relates: Batei Chabad had taken the place of A Chossid is a lamternchik, a “When we presented the Rebbe the usual mivtzoim. The Rebbe, again lamplighter, the Rebbe said, and the with the first key, the Rebbe asked, ‘Is and again, spoke about going on lamp is the Chabad House; people will this key mine?’ shlichus and opening Chabad Houses gather around it just as people gather “The benefactor answered, ‘Yes, in every city in the world, in any place around a torch during a dark and cold R ebb e.’ where Jews might find themselves. night.12 “‘If so,’ the Rebbe replied, ‘my hand On Chamisha Asar Bishvat, the The Rebbe explained that each will be on the door to keep it open 24 Rebbe called this campaign the zahir Chabad House includes all three parts hours a day, seven days a week, for tfei, the special mitzvah of the year, of avodas Hashem—Torah, avoda, and men, women, and children.’ and the shaar, the gateway through gemilus chassadim. Thus, when a Jew “To this day, the Chabad House which all other Torah and mitzvos might enter to take part in just one in UCLA is open for every Jew, at enter heaven.11 This was the new tzav element, to give tzedakah, for example, all hours. Initially we left the door hasha’ah—call of the hour. we will have the ability to entice him unlocked, but since circumstances into something he wasn’t planning didn’t allow it for safety reasons, we on doing, such as attending a shiur in have a person constantly on scene, PermanenceThe Rebbe often explained the Torah. ready to welcome any Jew inside.” advantage of maintaining a permanent Again and again, the Rebbe pointed One Shabbos, the Rebbe said an Chabad House. to the success of these institutions as entire sicha explaining the meaning While a shliach could always the best proof that they are needed. of the name “Beis Chabad.” 13 The approach individual Jews and The vast growth spurred by the Rebbe said that the full term is, in encourage them to strengthen their Chabad Houses left little room for reality, “Beis Oholei Yosef Yitzchak Yiddishkeit, a Chabad House can doubt that they could be instrumental, Lubavitch,” as written on the front accomplish much more. The Chabad and even crucial for the Yiddishkeit of of 770, which the Rebbe dubbed the House serves as a beacon of light for a city. “Beis Chabad Hakloli.” Every Chabad the entire locale; instead of reaching The Rebbe wanted these House is an extension of 770, and its institutions to be ready to service job is to be an extension of the Rebbe’s arm, spreading the Rebbe’s word to its surroundings.14

GettingThe Rebbe’s on Boardnew koch brought new levels of dedication out of the Chassidim of those years. In earlier times, it wasn’t too difficult to stay involved in the Rebbe’s initiatives. One could easily grab a pair of tefillin, a few sets of Shabbos candles, and “voila!” you fulfilled the Rebbe’s hora’ah. Suddenly the bochurim standing at the Rebbe’s realized that doing mivtzoim was not enough. The Rebbe wanted much more: Go on shlichus, and open a Beis Chabad. In previous years, the concept of

CHABAD OF CALIFORNIA CHABAD shlichus was not so widely accepted. RABBI SHLOMO CUNIN POSES WITH MEMBERS OF MAZKIRUS HOLDING THE KEY TO THE NEW CHABAD In fact, the earliest shluchim were HOUSE IN BERKELEY BEFORE PRESENTING IT TO THE REBBE. handpicked by the Rebbe himself.

KISLEV 5778 24 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER Now, there was no mistaking it. up their home and the child’s private reviewing Torah studies, and hosting Every person could and should go on room as a Beis Chabad. a tzedaka pushka, each room becomes shlichus, and take part in the Rebbe’s Just as in a typical Beis Chabad, a Beis Chabad, a beacon of light to mission. the Rebbe explained that the personal himself, his family, and the entire Hundreds of young couples Chabad Houses must comprise three world, no less than a real Beis Chabad. responded to the Rebbe’s call. things; Torah, avoda, and gemilus The next day,17 the Rebbe reiterated Bochurim learning in 770 at the time chassadim. By the child reciting the request in a sicha to adults, and tell how 90 percent of their classmates brachos in the morning, learning and moved on shlichus; numbers that were unprecedented in Lubavitch history. During the Chassidim’s grand Rosh Chodesh Kislev farbrengen in 5747, Rabbi Shlomo Cunin spoke about a “Tonight, the shluchim gave the new hachlata of the shluchim during the Kinus Hashluchim of the USA and Rebbe a gift of over one hundred and Canada, which had just concluded. twenty Chabad Houses—new ones!” “We know that the Rebbe has been koching in opening Batei Chabad; it is the Rebbe’s bakasha nafshis (heartfelt On Rosh Chodesh Shevat 5747, the Rebbe spoke about the potential request)15 that new Batei Chabad open Theconflict Boundariesthat can arise from the proliferation of Shulchan of so many Chabad Aruch Houses. all over the world. So we made an The Rebbe connected the campaign for Batei Chabad with that week’s אי זה בית אשר תבנו“ ,appeal. Every shliach received a piece haftarah, “Hashamayim Kisi,” focusing on the possuk Which is the house that you will build for Me, and—לי, ואי זה מקום מנוחתי of paper and wrote down how many new Chabad Houses he pledges to which is the place of My rest.” establish this year. The Rebbe said: “The papers were passed up, and Obviously, if building the home involves hasagas gvul—infringing on Rabbi Krinsky stood in front of the another’s boundaries, it cannot become “My place of rest”—a home for microphone and counted the pledges. Hashem. “Rabbosai, this is tachlis. Everything In addition to the fact that Hashem does not rest within something else is bubbe maises. Tonight, the created against Shulchan Aruch, it cannot be a place of rest because of the Shluchim gave the Rebbe a gift of ruckus caused by the individual who was slighted. over one hundred and twenty Chabad ...It was so obvious that I never thought, throughout the entire time Houses—new ones!” encouraging Batei Chabad, that there was a need to address this as well— A month later, the Rebbe that this too must follow the laws of Shulchan Aruch, Toras Moshe, the announced that he would personally eternal Torah. donate the sum of one thousand However, since there have been a number of such cases, there is a need dollars towards each new Chabad to address it; therefore, I hereby declare, that all of these activities must House. take place within the framework of Shulchan Aruch. ...At the same time, it’s important to negate the opposite train of thought—the mistaken idea of fearing a new Beis Chabad close by, for The Personal Beis “stealing” the merit of laying tefillin with a Jew, or because it will diminish ChabadOn Chanukah (Children) 5747, the Rebbe took your honor, etc. the concept of a Beis Chabad a step There are cases so outrageous and absurd: not only will someone not further. allow new Chabad Houses to open—forget about that. He might even 16 During a rally, the expel the prospective shluchim from the city, thinking that he is ruler Rebbe announced a new “command.” over the entire area, even resorting to harassment and causing them Every child was to request Chanukah- distress… gelt from his or her parents. What In that case, he must do teshuva, seek to appease the person slighted, should the Chanukah-gelt be? It should etc., and if his family was involved, they must do teshuva as well… be the parents’ assistance in setting Shabbos Parshas Va’eira 5747 (Toras Menachem 5747 vol. 2, p. 338).

KISLEV 5778 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 25 continued on this theme on many more occasions. With time, a number of hora’os were Shluchim and their supporters issued connected to this initiative: • On Chanukah, the Rebbe bring presentations about their asked that children kindle Batei Chabad to the Rebbe. their menorahs at the doorway of their private rooms, to emphasize the importance of their own Beis Chabad.18 • The Rebbe issued a letter directed to Jewish children around the world, asking each of them to place a siddur, Chumash, and pushka in a prominent place in their bedrooms.19 • The Rebbe also asked that these be personal belongings of the children, and that they

9 NISSAN 5751, CB HALBERSTAM VIA JEM 70460 CB HALBERSTAM 5751, 9 NISSAN inscribe their names and “LaHashem haaretz umeloah” on them, because they will hold these sefarim dearer and use them more often.20 During the following weeks, the Rebbe would often ask children if they owned their own siddur or pushka. The Rebbe even held a special coin distribution where thousands of children filed by holding their pushkas to receive a nickel from the Rebbe.21 One Shabbos at the farbrengen, the Rebbe spoke about a letter he received from proud parents: Their child had 8 TEVES 5752, CB HALBERSTAM VIA JEM 92412 CB HALBERSTAM 8 TEVES 5752, responded excitedly to the Rebbe’s call, and had even affixed a large sign on his door in English, declaring the room his “Beis Chabad.” “It’s easy to imagine the Jewish pride this gave the child; now, when his friends come over—even non- Jewish children—he can show them that his room is a Beis Chabad, connected with the main Beis Chabad, 770, and thereby connected with the Chabad Houses throughout the world as well. “He no longer feels ‘lonely as a Jew

14 SHEVAT 5752, CB HALBERSTAM VIA JEM 95844 CB HALBERSTAM 5752, 14 SHEVAT among gentiles.’ On the contrary, his

KISLEV 5778 26 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER LEVI FREIDIN VIA JEM 5289 THE REBBE ACKNOWLEDGES THE CENTERPIECE DISPLAYING THE THEME OF A PERSONAL BEIS CHABAD, KINUS OF N’SHEI CHABAD, 25 IYAR 5747.

Yiddishkeit is a source of pride and served as a beacon of light to the entire sicha, linked somehow to the theme of honor.”22 world—even gentiles—our homes the Kinus. That year’s centerpiece was must serve as a similar inspiration.23 a cake shaped as a house, supported A number of specific hora’os were by three pillars, representing Torah, The Personal Beis given by the Rebbe in this light. The avodah, and gemilus chassadim. As the ChabadWhile a large (Adults) emphasis was placed Rebbe asked that every Jewish home Rebbe left the room, he gazed at it, on the children’s Batei Chabad, the have a collection of holy books, in and began lifting it with a big smile. Rebbe applied the concept for adults addition to a siddur and Chumash, Immediately, Rabbi Groner came over as well. and that each kitchen have a pushka as and took it to the Rebbe’s room. The gist of the idea was that well. On one occasion, the Rebbe said every space that a Jew occupies must that just as the general Batei Chabad be utilized to spread Torah and host farbrengens from time to time, Chassidus. Every Jew is a shliach of the personal Batei Chabad should do Every Jew is a the Aibershter, and every space one so as well. occupies must resemble the Beis During the Kinus of N’shei Chabad, shliach of the Hamikdash; it must be a mikdash me’at. the Rebbe spoke about this theme The Beis Hamikdash included all three once again, and connected it to the Eibershter, and elements: The aron represented Torah, mission of Jewish women, who are the mizbei’ach represented avoda, the akeres habayis, the mainstay of every space he and the shulchan represented gemilus a Jewish home.24 At each of these occupies must chassadim; our homes must do the conventions, a centerpiece would be same. And just as the Beis Hamikdash set up on the Rebbe’s table before the resemble the Beis

KISLEV 5778 HamikdoshA CHASSIDISHER. DERHER 27 The Rebbe urged that this be done today, young people need more space PART II PHYSICAL before Rosh Hashanah starts, so to breath and move around, intimating FOUNDATIONS everyone rushed out of 770 to their that their plans were vastly inadequate. homes to complete the Rebbe’s hora’ah Mr. Chase responded before licht benchen. enthusiastically to the Rebbe’s call, Erev Chai Elul 5748 was a historic A Year of Building The Rebbe declared that year, and became the chairman of the day. Plans for expanding 770 were 5749, as “Shnas Habinyan, a year of committee that ultimately brought the underway, and a groundbreaking building.” vast campus of Tomchei Temimim of ceremony was planned for that In previous years, the Rebbe Morristown into being. The scope of afternoon. In the Rebbe’s house after emphasized that Chabad Houses the property and its buildings were Mincha, Mr. David Chase approached should be established all over, privately something that brought the Rebbe a the Rebbe and asked the Rebbe to and publicly; now the Rebbe asked lot of nachas, and the Rebbe said that participate. that these institutions be upgraded to its concept should become a blueprint After making a deal that Mr. Chase a new level of stability—by owning the for similar campuses around the would agree to address the crowd in buildings that house them. world.30 Yiddish, the Rebbe agreed, and that During the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, Similar stories took place with evening a grand groundbreaking the Rebbe held a yechidus for shluchim other shluchim. The Rebbe pushed ceremony took place in front of 770.25 and the philanthropists of the Machne them to buy and to build, and Two days later, the Rebbe gave Israel Development Fund, and, sometimes gave deadlines that seemed a new directive. It is an appropriate speaking directly to the lay-leaders, impossible to reach. time, the Rebbe said, to build he encouraged them to get involved in After Yud Shevat 5735, a few baalei buildings. Not only public buildings; it helping their shluchim begin to build. batim told the Rebbe that they were is a zman mesugal, an auspicious time “The shluchim themselves are busy thinking of acquiring a building for to build even private homes, which, with spreading Yiddishkeit, so they the Chabad House in Ann Arbor, as the Rebbe had explained countless don’t have time to deal with buying Michigan. The Rebbe gave them a times over the previous years, aren’t buildings; besides for the fact that deadline: the groundbreaking—or really private at all.26 they are yeshiva bochurim—batlanim— chanukas habayis, if they bought That Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke who don’t really know what they are an existing building—was to take at length on this topic once more, d oi ng .” 29 place by Yud-Aleph Nissan of that and encouraged everyone to begin year. With the Rebbe’s brachos, they building before the year comes to a pulled through with only a few hours close.27 BuildAlthough Big the And Rebbe Build began thisNow. remaining to the day.31 The directive applied to everyone. public campaign only during this year, This occurred once for the public If a Chabad House was renting space, the concept was something he always as well. On Lag Baomer 5746, the Rebbe said they should begin encouraged. Often, when shluchim during the height of encouraging to build (or purchase a building). and askanim asked the Rebbe’s the establishment of Batei Chabad, If someone didn’t yet own a private advice about building or purchasing the Rebbe asked that the building home, this was the time to get one. buildings—as opposed to renting—the campaigns be concluded before And if your mosad or home already Rebbe was very encouraging (provided Shavuos, and in honor of Yud- stood, then add another story, or at that the institution could reasonably Beis Tammuz, they will be able to least an additional room. afford to do so). expand…32 As part of the encouragement to David Chase, who, as mentioned build, the Rebbe announced a unique before, was involved in the expansion directive just minutes before Rosh of 770, first met the Rebbe during a Head In The Sky Hashanah. Following Mincha after yechidus of lay-leaders involved with ButIn letters Feet to On shluchim The and Ground askanim, returning from the , the Rebbe the yeshiva in Newark, led by Rabbi the Rebbe often instructed:33 said a sicha in which he requested that Moshe Herson. They told the Rebbe • Each institution should own every person attach a pushka to the that the yeshiva was housed in a its own building; moving from wall of his home, so that it will be a one-family unit, and they planned on one rented space to another permanent fixture of his private Beis moving it to a five or six family unit. is an unnecessary strain and Chabad.28 The Rebbe responded by saying that

KISLEV 5778 28 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER The building campaigns should be concluded before Shavuos, and in honor of Yud Beis Tammuz, they will be able to expand…

THE REBBE SPEAKS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MACHNE ISRAEL DEVELOPMENT FUND, ASKING THEM TO ASSIST THE SHLUCHIM IN BUILDING. 8 TISHREI 5749. V SCHILDKRAUT VIA JEM 148859 V SCHILDKRAUT

KISLEV 5778 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 29 diminishes the impact the will grow, with Hashem’s help; When Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff mosad could have.34 keep that in mind from the excitedly wrote to the Rebbe about his • The buildings should be larger beginning and leave space for plan to build a building, he quickly than the needs of the mosad. potential expansions.36 received an answer from the Rebbe Empty rooms will encourage On the other hand, the Rebbe asking why he was jumping so far, them to enlarge their scope didn’t allow bombastic plans of where would he get the money, etc. and seek new ways to fill the excessive spending if the shliach’s He was quite dejected, but on the empty space.35 finances weren’t in good enough shape advice of Rabbi Binyomin Klein, he • Draw plans that leave space to handle it. wrote up a detailed plan, delineating for expansion. The institution all the costs, keeping track of donations and pledges, and this time, the Rebbe replied with a bracha and a five hundred dollar contribution.37 When Rabbi Shlomo Cunin arrived ...encourage the local Jews to desire their own Beis Chabad, so that in California, he wanted to buy a shul, Getthey will themassist in its establishment,involved. both in spirit and in body, and in and then a swimming pool, but the financial support, so that it will be built even quicker than planned. Rebbe rejected both ideas on financial There is an additional benefit to this: grounds. It was only at his third By nature, when someone invests effort in something, in spirit, body, project, the Chabad House at UCLA, and funds, it becomes precious to him. If the local Jews will participate in that the Rebbe gave his approval.38 erecting the Beis Chabad, then, even after it is built, they will want to enter [It should be noted that obviously, it, and not only that, they will want to “live” with the Beis Chabad, and see the Rebbe’s hora’os were unique to it that the Beis Chabad’s activities be b’rov am, in large numbers, thereby and tailored for specific people and causing hadras melech, the splendor of the king—that of the nosi hador, all situations. There were also instances the way to that of the King of Kings, Hakadosh Baruch Hu. when the Rebbe chose the more 15 Tammuz 5747 (Toras Menachem 5747 vol. 4, p. 111). “all-out, l’chatchila ariber” type of approach.]

THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE EXPANSION OF 770, 17 ELUL 5748.

KISLEV 5778 30 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER words of Chazal in Maseches Brachos), 13. Ibid., p. 154. BayisAs mentioned, Na’eh during shnas “Marchivin daito shel adam—[a 14. Ibid., p. 76. habinyan, the Rebbe greatly beautiful home] broadens the mind of 15. Ibid., p. 76. encouraged construction of any kind, a person.” 16. Ibid. 5747 vol. 2, p. 123. including private homes. In fact, the 17. Ibid., p. 130. 1. For a comprehensive review of that 18. Ibid. 5748 vol. 2, p. 64. Rebbe gave one hundred dollars to year’s events and much more, see Derher 19. Ibid., p. 424. anyone who bought or built a home Supplement, Hei Teves 5777. 20. Ibid. 5747 vol. 2, p. 499. during that period. The Rebbe added 2. See Reconnecting, Derher, Iyar 5777. 21. Rosh Chodesh Adar 5747. that since women show more ability 3. See A Candle of Her Own, Derher, Tishrei 22. Toras Menachem 5747 vol. 2, p. 212. for harchavah in this field, they should 5775. 23. Ibid., p. 498. be involved to ensure that the project 4. See Redefining the Home, Derher, Teves 5777. 24. Ibid. vol. 3, p. 346. includes the proper harchavah.39 5. See Every Man. Every Halacha. Every Day, 25. See Hanochas Even Hapinah, Derher, Elul Rabbi Menachem Mendel Derher, Tishrei 5777. 5774. Lieberman, the shliach to Ashkelon in 6. The Rebbe initiated two campaigns: 26. Toras Menachem 5748 vol. 4, p. 301. Eretz Yisrael, relates that he searched One for general Sifrei Torah, and another for 27. Ibid., p. 313. high and low to buy a home during children’s Sifrei Torah. See Letter by Letter, 28. Ibid., p. 388. Derher, Teves 5776. shnas habinyan, and he found a perfect 29. Ibid. 5749 vol. 1, p. 55. 7. The first time the Rebbe spoke about this option, but it had one drawback. The 30. See Derher, Iyar 5774, pp. 35-36. new initiative was on Chanukah 5746—Toras home was perfectly situated, close to Menachem 5746 vol. 2, p. 131—and again on 31. See Derher, Shevat 5775, p. 20. his shul and to his community, but it Zos Chanukah—Toras Menachem 5746 vol. 2, 32. Toras Menachem 5746 vol. 3, p. 356. was “too” nice. He wrote to the Rebbe p. 192. 33. See Shlichus K’hilchaso, p. 442 ff. that it was a bayis na’eh, a beautiful 8. See Early Steps, Derher, Iyar 5776. 34. Toras Menachem 5749 vol. 1, p. 95. home, and he feared it would be 9. See Guidance from the Rebbe, Derher, Elul 35. Ibid., p. 54. 5777. inappropriate for a shliach to own it. 36. Igros Kodesh vol. 17, letter 6,466. 10. Toras Menachem 5747 vol. 1, p. 365. The Rebbe underlined the words 37. Derher, Iyar 5777, p. 59. 11. Ibid. vol. 2, p. 447. bayis na’eh, crossed out the rest of the 38. Derher, Av 5774, p. 39. 12. Ibid. vol. 1, p. 365. sentence, and added (based on the 39. Toras Menachem 5748 vol. 4, p. 381. CB HALBERSTAM VIA JEM 157562 CB HALBERSTAM

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