Every Step

INTERVIEW WITH of theSydney, AustraliaWay

MY EARLIEST MEMORIES Pittsburgh as a single girl to help the be shluchim and to be mekarev Yidden I was born in New York in 5705 newly established school there) was to Yiddishkeit and to Lubavitch. My father, Rabbi Mendel the daughter of Reb Elye Simpson, the Together with my parents, I .(תש"ה) Feldman, was a talmid chacham and mazkir and shadar of the Frierdiker merited to be in yechidus by the gaon who was niskarev to Lubavitch . I received an education about Frierdiker Rebbe a number of times. as a bochur in the late 5690s and was shlichus from a very early age. After On one occasion, the Frierdiker from the nucleus of their wedding, my parents were sent Rebbe blessed me to be “a gezunte Yid in America. He was sent on a number on shlichus by the Frierdiker Rebbe un a shtarkeh Chossid, a healthy Jew of shlichusen and received many to Jacksonville, Florida and all I heard and a strong Chossid.” (It is worthy to kiruvim. My mother, Rebbetzin Rochel from them from my earliest childhood note that throughout my life, I’ve had Feldman (who was also a shlucha to was the great zechus that they had to numerous health issues but nothing

ADAR I 5779 50 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER לע״נ הרה״ת ר׳ יהושע זעליג ע״ה בן הרה״ת ר׳ משה זלמן הכהן ע״ה כצמאן נלב״ע ח״י אדר ה׳תשנ״ח ולע״נ הרה״ת ר׳ קהת ע״ה בן ר׳ יחזקיהו שמואל ע״ה ווייס נלב״ע כ״ב אדר ב׳ ה׳תש“ס ת׳נ׳צ׳ב׳ה׳ נדפס ע״י משפחתם הרה״ת ר׳ יהודה בנימין וזוגתו מרת חנה ומשפחתם שיחיו ווייס

that ever developed into anything “Baruch Hashem, vos machst du?” I wore that day, and when I grew older significant, baruch Hashem.) So sure enough, I duly responded, I also cherished it and carried it in my Another time, the Frierdiker “Baruch Hashem, vos machst du?” pocket until it totally fell apart. Rebbe told me, “Zolst lernen asach un My parents were mortified, but the shtifen asach.” Loosely translated, that Frierdiker Rebbe clearly enjoyed my UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES means, “You should learn a lot and be response and gave me a broad smile. I vividly remember the Motzei 'mischievous' a lot.” In one of these yechidusen, the Shabbos we received the call about One time, the Frierdiker Rebbe Frierdiker Rebbe placed his holy the Frierdiker Rebbe’s histalkus. asked me, “Vos machst du.” My parents hands on my head and blessed me Although I was only five years old, I’ll had just taught me to respond to with birkas kohanim. My parents never forget the sight of my parent’s someone’s “Vos machst du,” with, treasured and held onto the yarmulke devastation.

ADAR I 5779 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 51 There was a severe fog that night inside the entire time, so after hours of and planes weren’t taking off, so we waiting I decided to step outside for a took a train from Jacksonville all the few short moments. way to Washington, D.C., and from To my mazal, just as I stepped there we flew off to New York for the out the Rebbe called out, “Pinchus levaya. Hakohen Feldman, vu iz er, where is During that time period, I he?” remained in my grandparents’ home Needless to say, I was quite in New York to attend school and my embarrassed, but I was rushed parents joined me in New York shortly back into the room and the Rebbe afterwards. We lived on Kingston graciously gave me challah and Avenue, and for the next eight years, bentched me in honor of the bar I merited to grow up in the Rebbe’s mitzvah. presence. In the years that followed, I would The Rebbe paid special attention send in questions to the Rebbe and I to us, the Crown Heights children in often received answers, brachos and those years, often singling us out to guidance. In general, the Rebbe was say l’chaim at . On quite very involved in everything in our RABBI FELDMAN AS A BOCHUR. a number of occasions, the Rebbe lives; he really looked after “the boys.” called out to me, “Pinchus Hakohen On one occasion I was invited to TOMCHEI TEMIMIM Feldman, zog l’chaim!” a family bar mitzvah outside New Before I entered zal in Montreal, I York City, which was scheduled for a THREE ALIYOS FOR was in yechidus for my birthday (as I Shabbos Mevorchim. I was conflicted had every year after my bar mitzvah), MY BAR MITZVAH as to whether I should go; on one and I asked the Rebbe how to use My bar mitzvah took place on hand, the family would be hurt if my free time. The Rebbe directed Friday, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan I didn’t attend, but on the other, I me to divide any extra time I had 5718*. Beforehand, the Rebbe didn’t want to miss the . I between Chassidus and Shulchan instructed me to receive three aliyos: asked the Rebbe what to do, and he Aruch. So, each evening, I would one on Friday morning, a second responded that I should remain in 770. add an hour of Chassidus and then on Shabbos morning, and a third on It was very important to the Rebbe an hour of Shulchan Aruch. (The Shabbos afternoon. I received the that the bochurim be present at the Rebbe’s instruction to learn halacha, first and third aliyos in the Rebbe’s farbrengen. in retrospect, was the beginning of a presence, and the middle one in the During my years in 770, my uncle series of instructions that guided me shul where my father was the rav (in fell ill with yene machala. I consulted to where I am today, but at the time I Brownsville, where Eastern Parkway with the Rebbe and I also arranged was totally unsuspecting.) meets Lincoln Place), where we a yechidus for my aunt. During the After one year in Montreal, I celebrated the bar mitzvah. yechidus, the Rebbe spent a long “graduated” to 770, and I was zoche to The Rebbe informed me that he time counseling her regarding her learn near the Rebbe for several years, wanted to give me the brachos for husband’s treatment. through Pesach 5725*. my bar mitzvah in public, berabim, Several days later, during seder After that Pesach, I went to learn in during the closest farbrengen to the Chassidus on Friday night, Rabbi Kfar . occasion—the grand Simchas Torah Hodakov called me and informed me Before my journey, I had quite farbrengen. I was obviously very that the Rebbe would like to see me. a long yechidus and the Rebbe gave excited and I came to the farbrengen I was shocked; I went to Gan Eden me many directives. The Rebbe told anxiously waiting for the Rebbe to call Hatachton and nervously knocked on me that I was to be a shliach—not me. the Rebbe’s door. as a bracha but as a statement—(I In those years, the Simchas Torah The Rebbe called me in and asked understood that to mean that I would farbrengens lasted many, many hours. about my uncle and his treatments. He be a shliach throughout my life). The Hour after hour passed and still the wanted to know every detail. Rebbe said I should review Rebbe hadn’t called me. I was young That was the type of relationship we publicly at least once a month, and and it was difficult for me to remain had with the Rebbe.

ADAR I 5779 z 52 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 5718-1958, 5725-1965 also that I should continue studying NEW PLANS Chayei Sarah, he said, “Kulan shavin 1 halacha. (I indeed learned halacha For Tishrei 5727*, I traveled to the litovah, they are all equally good.” with Rabbi Schneur Zalman Gorelik, Rebbe. The Rebbe wasn’t going to choose a the rav of at the time, Several days before Rosh Hashanah, specific name. and received semicha from him.) the Rebbe held the customary sicha A short time later, I received a The Rebbe also encouraged me to for women. In those days, the women suggestion from Reb Binyomin Klein write to him often and added that he were given the opportunity to pass and my uncle Reb Sholom Mendel would do his best to respond. If there by and have a mini-yechidus with the Simpson regarding a young lady was an urgent need for an answer, the Rebbe following the sicha. On that named Pnina Gutnick, the daughter Rebbe said, he would even send me a occasion, as my mother approached of Rabbi of . telegram. the Rebbe, the Rebbe told her, “M’dar f She was visiting New York at the time. In Kfar Chabad, I was considered zehn trachten vegen a shidduch, you Her father was well-known to have a one of the eltere bochurim, and I need to begin thinking about a special connection to the Rebbe. I later would spend a lot of time learning shidduch.” discovered that during her three years and farbrenging with the younger To be honest, I was quite of study in the Gateshead seminary, students. The Reb Shlomo disappointed. I was thoroughly the Rebbe had carried on significant Chaim Kesselman would arrange enjoying my time in Kfar Chabad, and written correspondence with her as groups of talmidim, and I would spend the prospect of marriage didn’t excite well. time with them. Baruch Hashem, me in the slightest; there was so much I wrote to the Rebbe about the I was quite successful, and many that I wanted to learn before marriage. suggestion, and to my surprise, the struggling bochurim and newcomers to I was only 21 at the time. Nonetheless, Rebbe replied that I should grab Lubavitch found their way through my my return to Kfar Chabad was the opportunity, “Shema yikadmenu “tutorship.” canceled, and we began looking into acher, lest someone else come before It was a very spiritual time for me. I various shidduchim. you.” (I later discovered that the very learned for many hours, I was involved In the beginning of Cheshvan I had suggestion had originated from the in avodas hatefillah, for which I my birthday-yechidus, and I included a Rebbe.) received a special bracha from the list of shidduch prospects in my tzetel, We met several times, and then I Rebbe, and Reb Shlomo Chaim helped hoping the Rebbe would guide me wrote to the Rebbe asking if I should me to deflect shidduch requests so that on how to proceed. The Rebbe read proceed. The response I received was I would be able to continue learning. I the names but, in the spirit of Parshas that I should follow my hergesh halev, hoped it would last “forever.” my emotions. Seeing that answer, I wrote to the Rebbe again. I explained that hergesh halev wasn’t applicable in my case since the only reason I looked into shidduchim was because the Rebbe had instructed me to do so. Personally, I would have preferred to continue learning, so I asked the Rebbe to tell me exactly what the next step was. If he would say to proceed with the shidduch, I would; but if he wouldn’t, then I would not. Shortly afterwards, I received the Rebbe’s response. “Veyehei beshaa tovah u’mutzlachas, may it be in a good and auspicious hou r.” My father approached the Rebbe at his next opportunity to speak about the shidduch and the Rebbe wished

12 KISLEV 5750, CB HALBERSTAM VIA JEM 35591 CB HALBERSTAM 12 KISLEV 5750, him “mazal tov.” The Rebbe added,

ADAR I 5779 5727-1966 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 53 “Zei zolen zein in Australia, they should live in Australia.” Interestingly, the Rebbe instructed us to hold a tena’im ceremony right after our engagement, although the usual custom among anash is to do tena’im immediately before the wedding. KICKOFF My future father-in-law, Rabbi Chaim Gutnick, was one of the most prominent in Australia, and the Rebbe viewed him as the chief rabbi of Australia. He had a very close relationship with the Rebbe; he would TENOIM OF RABBI FELDMAN. have yechidusen for hours upon hours where he would speak with the Rebbe FOR A LEARNED AUDIENCE I SHOULD DELIVER A about anything and everything under the sun. MAAMAR “SO THAT THEY WILL BE NISBATEL.” We thought to hold the wedding in The Rebbe chose our wedding to semicha—yoreh yoreh is given without New York and hoped that the Rebbe be the “kickoff” for the . The learning relevant practical halochos in might make an exception to the rule at six shluchim arrived shortly before gittin and kiddushin. the time and be mesader kiddushin, but the wedding accompanied by my In yechidus before I traveled to the Rebbe instructed us to hold the grandfather, Reb Elye Simpson, who Australia for the wedding, the Rebbe wedding in Melbourne. the Rebbe sent as his personal shliach gave me many instructions. Why did the Rebbe instruct us to to help set up the yeshiva, and at the First of all, I was to deliver at least do so? wedding they were all guests of honor. three pilpulim over the wedding days. Obviously, it is impossible to know The Rebbe sent mashke with them and Secondly, I was to review a maamar exactly the Rebbe’s reason. However, they distributed a little bit to all the Chassidus at every event related to the as events played themselves out, it men. Their presence made a powerful wedding. I asked the Rebbe what sort was clear that this was crucial for the impression on the entire Jewish of maamarim to review, and the Rebbe Rebbe’s vision for Melbourne and community. said that for a simpler crowd I should Sydney. Anash in Melbourne had just choose simple maamarim, but for a opened the Yeshiva Gedolah there, A SPECIAL SHEVA BRACHOS learned audience, I should choose a and not long after our engagement the Sometime before our wedding, more difficult maamar, "so they will be Rebbe decided to send six talmidim the Rebbe instructed me to receive as nisbatel." hashluchim from 770 to Australia for a many semichos as possible. In addition The Rebbe also gave another two year period. The establishment of to my semicha from Rabbi Gorelik of instruction: the yeshiva was a very big deal and the Kfar Chabad, I subsequently received Although the wedding would be in Rebbe wanted it to open publicly with semicha from Rabbi Piekarsky, the rosh Melbourne, one of our sheva brachos the greatest possible shturem. yeshiva of 770, Rabbi Berel Rivkin, the (as a melava malka) should take place Now, my father-in-law was rosh yeshivah and masmich of Torah in Sydney. The official reason, the extremely popular and the Rebbe Vodaas, Rabbi Pinchas Hirschsprung Rebbe explained, was that the kallah’s encouraged him to make a big from Montreal, and from Rabbi Moshe grandmother lived in Sydney and her wedding. Our chuppah had 5000 Feinstein. husband (of zivug sheni), Rabbi Asher people in attendance and the wedding It is interesting to note, that the Abramson, was the chief dayan of the meal had 1400 guests. It was extremely Rebbe wrote me at that time (when city (who the Rebbe also wanted me to high profile and widely reported in the I told him what I was learning for receive semicha from). The taam pnimi, media. semicha) that he is surprised that

ADAR I 5779 54 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER LIBRARY OF CHASIDEI OF AGUDAS LIBRARY A GROUP OF THE EARLY SHLUCHIM AND ASKANIM AT A COMMUNITY EVENT IN PHILADELPHIA, MID 5730S. IN ATTENDANCE: RABBI AVRAHAM SHEMTOV; RABBI PINCHUS FELDMAN; RABBI NACHMAN SUDAK; RABBI ZUSHE WILMOVSKY; RABBI LEIBEL RASKIN; RABBI SHLOMO MAIDANCHIK. LEFT: RABBI FELDMAN ADDRESSES THE EVENT. RIGHT: THE SHLUCHIM POSE WITH A GLOBE, EACH POINTING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE MAKOM HASHLICHUS. RABBI FELDMAN IS ON THE RIGHT. however, was about where the sheva The Rebbe instructed me that Barzel was going to Eretz Yisroel for brachos should be held. subsequent to the wedding we should several months and they were looking The Rebbe instructed that the sheva go to Kfar Chabad and that I should for a replacement rabbi. They offered brachos be held in a specific shul called learn dayanus in kolel (for which I then me the job. “Yeshiva.” received yadin yadin). He also gave I wrote to the Rebbe and received Yeshiva was a community founded me a seder avoda but emphasized that a response as a postscript to the by a Gerrer Chossid named Rabbi I should remember that it is shana “wedding letter.” The Rebbe wrote Gedalia Hertz, who had moved away rishona and that it is a chiyuv min that we had already made up that I from Sydney several years earlier. (Reb haTorah for there to be “vesimach es will spend some time in kolel in Kfar Gedalia was closely associated with ishto, to make one’s wife happy.” Chabad and he didn’t understand the Lubavitch, and today his children and I left New York after Shabbos reason to change those plans. grandchildren are Chabad Chassidim.) Parshas Beshalach, 5727. During the I rejected their offer. This shul had a number of very farbrengen, the Rebbe spoke a sicha A few weeks later, they hosted our scholarly congregants, Holocaust about the mann, the “lechem min sheva brachos. As the Rebbe instructed, survivors who had been educated in hashamayim,” and afterwards called I delivered a pilpul, and all the learned Europe’s finest yeshivos. It also had a me up, gave me a bottle of mashke, and Jews listened and enjoyed it. Then, semi-yeshiva for children, and it was bentched me that I should always have I reviewed a maamar. Following the the center for Yiddishkeit in Sydney. lechem min hashamayim. Rebbe’s instructions here as well, I When Rabbi Hertz moved away in the chose a difficult maamar of the Rebbe early 5720s, the baalei batim had asked AN OFFER Maharash (Mi Kamocha 5629), the Rebbe to suggest a replacement, I arrived in Australia a month with many references to Kabbalistic but ultimately hired a different rabbi, before my wedding for my engagement concepts that were totally unfamiliar named Rabbi Barzel, a renowned rosh party. I spent most of the month in to the audience. Here, they sat with yeshiva from Eretz Yisroel. Sydney where I first encountered the great respect, awed at the Kabbalah The Rebbe told me to hold a baalei batim of the Yeshiva. “flying over their heads.” Soon sheva brachos in their shul on Motzei The rav would deliver a shiur in afterwards, we sang the solemn and Shabbos and gave very specific Gemara l’iyun every week and seeing a soul-stirring niggunim. instructions: I was to deliver a pilpul, yungerman from America, honored me The audience was very impressed. review a maamar, and also sing the to deliver the shiur in his stead. Baruch To them, in faraway Sydney, this was a niggun hachana and the Alter Rebbe’s Hashem, I made a good impression on very uplifting experience. niggun. them, and almost immediately, I was approached with a proposal. Rabbi

ADAR I 5779 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 55 My father-in-law would call Rabbi Hodakov but we understood that the Rebbe was on the line as well. My trial period finished successfully and it was now time to negotiate a deal. My father-in- law came to Sydney along with the mechutan Reb Yankel Hecht. (The Rebbe told me that Reb Yankel should be my mentor in matters concerning rabbanishe breitkeit. It was his suggestion that I start wearing a rabbanishe hat, which I do until this day.) The community came with an

LIBRARY OF AGUDAS CHASIDEI CHABAD CHASIDEI OF AGUDAS LIBRARY offer: They were willing to employ RABBI JJ HECHT VISITS THE US CONSULATE DURING A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA. RABBI CHAIM GUTNICK AND me to run the school, deliver classes, RABBI FELDMAN ARE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE. 5728. and fulfill all rabbinic obligations but But very soon afterwards, we said instructions. He was actually one of they reserved the right to hire a senior our goodbyes and headed off to Eretz the founders of the Yeshiva when rabbi if they should so desire at a later Yisroel. Rabbi Hertz came and he couldn’t date. After all, I was only twenty-three fathom that a respectable community years old! RABBI HODAKOV’S of many middle aged talmidei My father-in-law called 770, and PHONE CALL chachamim would hire a twenty-three- the Rebbe gave us the following After a year in kolel, my sister-in- year-old rabbi, especially after being instructions: law, Rabbi Gutnick’s second daughter, host to two very venerable rabbanim. We should tell the community that became engaged to Rabbi Sholom Ber However, the Rebbe said that this is I am a rav. A rav is a mara d’asra and Hecht. We didn’t plan to attend the what he wants and that was that. must have full control over everything wedding; we were literally a world My father-in-law invited several in the community. If they are willing away and it was unheard of to make of the community leaders to his to hire me as the rav unconditionally, regular trips to Australia. About a daughter’s wedding and suggested that with the final say on all matters, good. week before the wedding, I received a they bring me to Sydney for a “ p r o b e h ,” If not, “mir velen bleiben gutte freint, phone call from Rabbi Hodakov. He for a trial period of two weeks. we will remain good friends,” in the told me that I must pack my bags and Particularly, the point of contact Rebbe’s words, but we will not accept travel to Australia immediately. was Reb Shmuel Greenbaum, a big the offer. Why the rush? talmid chacham in his own right who We gave them the ultimatum and The reason would be to attend had visited the Rebbe for yechidus in after some deliberation, they accepted. the wedding; additionally, the Rebbe previous years. The Rebbe sent a telegram to the wanted me to become the rav of At a subsequent yechidus, the Rebbe hachtara, and also a beautiful letter Yeshiva in Sydney. A short time earlier, said to him that he (the Rebbe) owes to the congregation praising them Rabbi Barzel had decided to move to him commission on facilitating the for their choice and writing the most Eretz Yisroel permanently. rabbanus. amazing compliments (the letter was My wife had given birth just over a (A few years later Reb Shmuel addressed to Reb Shmuel Greenbaum): ואשרי חלקם שבחרו בהרב פנחס שליט”א month earlier to our oldest son, Yosef was having difficulties in parnassa הכהן לרב דקהלתם ולראש הישיבה, שהרי הוא Yitzchok. The Rebbe gave detailed and he then asked the Rebbe for his מטובי תלמידי הישיבה הק’ “תומכי תמימים” instructions and asked that specific commision! The Rebbe responded ַליובאוויטש. people to look after her in my absence, that his commision is yiddesher nachas and I took a suitcase and set off for from his children, which has actually “You are fortunate to have chosen Australia. been fulfilled in very great measure.) Rabbi Pinchus shlita Hakohen to serve At the outset, my father-in-law From the time of the wedding, as the rav and rosh yeshiva of your was incredulous about the Rebbe’s we had weekly phone calls with 770. community, for he is from among the

ADAR I 5779 56 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER MY TASK WAS “IBER- TZU-NEMEN DI GANTZE MEDINEH,” finest students of Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch,” the Rebbe wrote (Igros Kodesh vol. 25 pg. 236). Thus, through the Rebbe’s deliberate planning, I became the rabbi of Yeshiva. After I received the post, the Rebbe told my shver that my task was “iber-tzu-nemen di gantze medineh, to ‘transform’ the entire state [New South Wales].” That was to be my shlichus. Over the years, we received a constant stream of advice and encouragement from the Rebbe. Rabbi Hodakov spent significant amounts of time with me on the phone and guided me on every aspect of our shlichus. When we first moved out, I told Rabbi Hodakov that I didn’t know how I would manage to accomplish everything the Rebbe wants, and Rabbi Hodokav wrote to me that I RABBI FELDMAN IN HIS OFFICE. אם קטן“ should always remember that you ,אתה בעיניך ראש שבטי ישראל אתה might be small in your own eyes, but More Lubavitchers were brought into Rebbe didn’t allow me to change the you are a leader in Israel.” the schools and the community started custom. One interesting directive I received to gravitate to the Rebbe. Ultimately, In 5732*, I came to 770 for about my position was that I should we began opening Chabad Houses Yud-Alef Nissan, and the Rebbe receive the highest salary in the in the late 5730s*, and those were announced the campaign to open 70 organization. This is because baalei officially under the name Chabad. new institutions that year. I hoped batim associate importance with However, as long as the community that the Rebbe would allow me to the level of salary. Therefore, it was wasn’t ripe for that change, the Rebbe open an official Tzach in Sydney, but imperative that I be paid the highest didn’t allow it. Even in seemingly in yechidus the Rebbe categorically salary. petty matters, the Rebbe always told rejected the idea. me to respect the sensitivities of In the current situation, the WITHOUT THE SHAAR BLATT the congregants. For example, my Rebbe told me, my shlichus was to Naturally, I wanted to do all of Hungarian baalei batim insisted that do all the Rebbe’s activities in Sydney the Rebbe’s activities and mivtzoim, a rav may only speak Yiddish in shul but “without the shaar blatt.” The and I wanted it to be in the name of (this had been a strong takana in Rebbe explained that the Frierdiker the Rebbe and Chabad. However, Hungary meant to battle the influence Rebbe once instructed that if people the Rebbe maintained that I would of Reform). It was very difficult for me are afraid or embarrassed to study best achieve all of these goals in my to bring mekuravim into a shul where Chassidus, the shaar blatt should be position as the rabbi of Yeshiva. I spoke in Yiddish and I needed to removed and they should be given the Slowly but surely we brought the appoint interpreters to translate my content without knowing the source. Rebbe into every aspect of the mosdos. words into English. Nevertheless, the My situation was similar, the Rebbe

z ADAR I 5779 5730S-1970S, 5732-1972 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 57 said. I should continue doing the issues, both with the religious women TIGHTROPE Rebbe’s work, but without any drastic by teaching taharas hamishpacha as Serving as a rabbi in a non-Chabad changes in the official name. well as the general community in shul but as a shliach of the Rebbe, finding ways and means of bringing brought about an interesting situation: WOMEN’S ACTIVITIES them closer to Yiddishkeit. I would often receive directives When we came to Sydney, much She ended up creating a major from the Rebbe, but I wasn’t permitted before we established our own yeshiva women’s organization called “Women to relay it to my lay-leaders as the gedola and seminary, the Rebbe told us of Valour” whose highlight was a Rebbe’s instructions. The Rebbe didn’t that our task is to see to send as many yearly function of up to 800 people. want the baalei batim to feel as if bochurim to the Melbourne yeshiva She created a network of classes and everything I did was dictated from gedola and for my wife to send girls to seminars which ultimately made many afar. So I had to find ways to fulfill the Chana in Melbourne. The Rebbe baalei teshuva. Rebbe’s instructions without letting on said that we have to act like Avraham At every yechidus, the Rebbe would where it came from. and Sarah where “Avraham megayer ask my wife about developments with For example: ha’anashim” and “Sarah megayeres the women. However, every time we A year before my arrival in Sydney, hanashim.” reported our successes the Rebbe used a full-on day school had been opened The Rebbe gave my wife the to replace the after-hours talmud ,”מי שיש לו מנה רוצה מאתיים“ to respond responsibility to deal with all women’s i.e. never to be satisfied. Torah that had functioned until then. We were looking for a headmaster THE REBBE SAID THAT WE HAVE TO ACT LIKE for the secular studies and a certain person was suggested. He had all the AVRAHAM AND SARAH WHERE “AVRAHAM MEGAYER secular qualifications, and he was also HA’ANASHIM” AND “SARAH MEGAYERES HANASHIM.” a Chossid, so it seemed a perfect fit. However, he wasn’t willing to take instructions from me. He wanted to be answerable only to the top board of executives. The Rebbe told me to reject his candidacy because, as he had said earlier, the rav must have full control over everything in the community. However, I couldn’t say so publicly; I needed to find excuses to reject him. There was another instance which was similar, and this one I will never forget: The day school at the time consisted only of an elementary school. I arrived full of enthusiasm, and immediately declared that we need a high school as well. The lay-leaders felt it was too early; there weren’t enough funds and the elementary school was just getting off the ground, but I nevertheless insisted. I organized meetings, gave speeches, and cajoled and nudged people. I told them that one must have mesiras nefesh for chinuch, and I began to gather LIBRARY OF AGUDAS CHASIDEI CHABAD CHASIDEI OF AGUDAS LIBRARY RABBI FELDMAN LIGHTS A IN SYDNEY.

ADAR I 5779 58 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER support. It seemed that it might get off the ground. I hadn’t asked the Rebbe before doing so. I innocently assumed that the Rebbe would obviously agree, and in one of my reports to the Rebbe, I simply informed the Rebbe about the plan. I received a call from Rabbi Hodakov, instructing me to pull back my campaign and cancel the plans. It was too early for a high school, the Rebbe said, and I should proceed with these plans only when I have a viable financial base and a concrete plan for success. The situation was almost comical. I had to come up with various excuses to kill the idea. The baalei batim were incredulous. I had been full of excitement and had declared this to be of utmost importance and suddenly I had made a complete turnaround. They all understood that something had occurred but they couldn’t figure out what it was. I was very careful not VIA JEM 147962 BARON MORDECHAI to let on what had happened. RABBI FELDMAN ADDRESSES THE KINUS HASHLUCHIM HAOLAMI, ROSH CHODESH KISLEV 5748.

KASHRUS IN SYDNEY Rebbe generally opposed Lubavitchers wasn’t possible, I would come for Yud- A few years into my shlichus, I getting involved in kashrus. The Rebbe Beis Tammuz. was approached by the leaders of the had once told someone, “Unzer inyan Obviously, we only came with the Hungarian community of Sydney with is tzu marbeh zein oichlei kashrus, we Rebbe’s explicit permission. It was a request. Sydney had two kashrus should focus on increasing people who unheard of in those years for a shliach agencies; one was administered by the eat kosher.” to come to New York without first beis din of my wife’s step-grandfather, I explained all the considerations writing to the Rebbe and receiving his Reb Asher Abramson, and the other in a letter to the Rebbe, and the approval, and there were times that by the Hungarian community. Their Rebbe responded that despite all my the Rebbe refused to grant permission. community had been lacking a rabbi misgivings, I should accept the offer (The usual conditions were that I had for some time, so they asked me to because it was essential that a city have permission from my wife, and that take responsibility for their kashrus a high standard of kashrus. It was a my absence wouldn’t have a negative organization. hard sell to my lay leaders (again, I impact on our activities.) My baalei batim opposed the idea couldn’t say it in the Rebbe’s name), One time, I got off the plane in because we already had enough on but I managed to convince them that New York for Yud Shevat, and the our hands. I thought it would also be it was our Torah duty to get involved. transition from the Australian summer disrespectful for me to be somewhat Ultimately, our entry into kashrus gave to the New York winter hit me so hard of a competition to Rabbi Abramson us the keys to the kashrus of the entire that I fell ill with a terrible fever. I was (the Rebbe had even directed me city. bedridden and too sick to move and to consult with him on all matters Yud Shevat was only a day away! pertaining to rabbanus). Additionally, OPEN MIRACLES My grandfather, Reb Elye Simpson, I assumed that the Rebbe would reject I would normally come to the was scheduled to go into yechidus that the idea because I knew that the Rebbe every , and if that night so he asked the Rebbe what I

ADAR I 5779 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 59 should do. The Rebbe said that I must After discussing the different issues (On a separate occasion, the Rebbe come to the farbrengen, no matter in our tzetel, the Rebbe turned to her asked my wife what someone was what. and asked, “And what does the power doing regarding a certain issue, and The weather was terrible and some behind the throne say?” she responded, “She’s doing her best.” family members tried to discourage This was her moment to ask; The Rebbe smiled broadly and said, me. I recalled the story of the Alter however, she became tongue-tied, and “Ba unz in America, az m’tut gornisht, Rebbe on Simchas Torah with the sick said nothing. zogt men, ‘I’m trying my best’—Here Chassidim2 and I made the effort to Not getting any response, the in America, when we do nothing, we come to 770. I was feeling awful, so I Rebbe proceeded to give us brachos, say ‘I’m trying my best.’”) laid down under a bench behind the which signaled the conclusion of the Rebbe, emerging only to say l’chaim. yechidus. I thought that my wife had MARAH LEVANAH Unbelievably, by the time the Rebbe lost her chance. Sydney is not a religious city and left the farbrengen I was as good as Suddenly, in the course of his fundraising for a religious day-school new; there was no trace of the fever brachos, the Rebbe said, “In regard was something that proved to be very left. It was a pure miracle. to [the particular issue bothering my Another story: wife], being that you are involved in My wife and I were in yechidus good work, I don’t think you should MORE STUDENTS together. There was a certain issue be bothered by it. Ignore it and In the 5740s*, our bothering my wife but she didn’t want everything will turn out well.” institutions were in significant to put it in writing and hoped to bring We had never mentioned this financial difficulties. One of it up during the yechidus. issue to the Rebbe; it was a clear our mekuravim was a member demonstration of ruach hakodesh. of Machne Israel Development Fund, and during his yechidus, he asked the Rebbe for a special bracha for me, in regard to the financial situation. The Rebbe said, “Please tell Rabbi Feldman that the solution to financial problems is to increase in students.” We immediately made a campaign to bring in more students. We sent out flyers and put advertisements in the papers, and pulled in several new students. At the next yechidus, he told the Rebbe that we had brought in new students, but the situation was still dire. The Rebbe responded, “Please explain to Rabbi Feldman that the only solution is to add in talmidim…” At that time I asked the Rebbe whether I should borrow money to pay the teachers even though I didn’t know how I was going to pay back. The Rebbe answered in the affirmative. LIBRARY OF AGUDAS CHASIDEI CHABAD CHASIDEI OF AGUDAS LIBRARY

ADAR I 5779 z 60 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 5740S-1980S difficult. Once, when I had a yechidus, more Chassidus, which will help your To my surprise, the Rebbe said that I expressed my dismay to the Rebbe. intellect influence your emotions. under no circumstances should we The Rebbe responded that he proceed. Firstly, this isn’t our inyan, doesn’t understand my attitude. It was HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL and secondly, it is wrong to collect clear, the Rebbe said, that everything Our institutions began to grow; money in the memory of the kedoshim in Sydney is limaalah miderech we had a school, yeshiva, seminary, even for the benefit of memorializing hatevah, beyond nature. So why was mikvah, and more, and I was always them! I complaining? If I needed evidence, looking for a new angle of fundraising I could just compare myself to many opportunities. TRANSFORMATION of my peers who haven’t had the same At some point, I visited Los Angeles The Rebbe blessed us a number of measures of success. and saw the Holocaust center that times with nachas from our children. The Rebbe commented to me on was associated with a school called Baruch Hashem, all of our children several occasions that I demonstrated Yeshiva University. They explained to and now some grandchildren are on too much mara shechora (seriousness me that it was an amazing source of shlichus and we are very grateful to and lack of joy). Once, my wife went funds (especially in those days, when Hashem and the Rebbe for the brachos, for dollars and the Rebbe told her that many philanthropists were Holocaust both personally and communally. since I was too mara shechora, it was survivors) and it was a primary source As I mentioned earlier, after her responsibility to reveal the marah of support for their school. I received my post in 5728*, the levenah within me. I thought that it was a wonderful Rebbe told my shver that my task was I once wrote to the Rebbe that idea; Sydney was a community of “Iber-tzu-nemen di gantze medineh, to I believe all of his brachos will be Holocaust survivors and people would ‘transform’ the entire state.” During a fulfilled, and in my mind, I have be very enthusiastic about something yechidus at a later point, the Rebbe told bitachon but I have a meitzar hagaron, like that. my shver that since I was appointed a term used in Chassidus for when the We had the land on our campus rav, Sydney belongs to the Rebbe. mind understands something but the and there was a person who promised In retrospect, what has happened heart refuses to be affected. a million dollars for the project. We with the Rebbe’s vision and brochos The Rebbe’s response was that he prepared all of the campaign material, was amazing (taking into account doesn’t understand the issue. The way and right before we launched the that, unlike Melbourne, Sydney was a to correct a meitzar hagaron is to learn campaign, I wrote to the Rebbe and spiritual desert). Many thousands of asked for a bracha. children were educated in our different kindergartens, primary schools, high schools for boys and girls, Gan Yisrael summer camps and winter “HERE IN AMERICA, WHEN WE DO NOTHING, WE SAY camps. We established a yeshiva gedola ‘I’M TRYING MY BEST.’” (there are about 500 musmachim from our yeshiva, many who are serving all over the world as shluchim), a OVER SEVENTY seminary, and many other mosdos. Rabbi Asher Abramson, the dayan of Sydney, was mistreated by the Most of the spiritual leadership in baalei batim of his shul and he needed to leave his shul; obviously, he was Sydney today are either our talmidim sad and unhappy. or people that we have brought out on During a yechidus, the Rebbe spoke to me about various ways to keep shlichus. Indeed, this applies to a large him active in the community, but at one point I told the Rebbe, “He’s proportion of the spiritual leadership already an old man, he’s over 70 and no longer healthy.” in all of Australia. As soon as those words left my mouth, I froze. I had just said that to That was the Rebbe’s instructions: the Rebbe, who was in his mid-seventies as well! “Iber-tzu-nemen di gantze The Rebbe smiled broadly, and said, “Ich bin oichet iber zibetzig, un medineh.” ich hob plener far noch tzen yor, un noch dem hob ich plener far noch tzen 1. Rashi on Chayei Sarah 23:1. yahr—I’m also over 70, and I still have plans for the next 10 years, and 2. See “Simchas Torah of Fire,” Derher Tishrei afterwards for the next 10 years as well.” 5775 pg. 24.

ADAR I 5779 5728-1968 A CHASSIDISHER DERHER 61