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ORIGINAL CHABAD LETTER ON THE OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD OF THE PREVIOUS LUBAVITCHER REBBE, RABBI YOSEF YITZCHAK SCHNEERSOHN (THE RAYATZ), 770 EASTERN PARKWAY, 15 TEVES 5705 (DECEMBER 1944) – THE REBBE ANNOUNCES THE FOUNDING OF \"CHEVRAS ADEINU\" FOR AVREICHIM AND YESHIVA STUDENTS
A NEW TORAH SOCIETY, ANNOUNCED BY THE REBBE HIMSELF
In the last winter of the Second World War, while European Jewry was being destroyed, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe was building Torah in America from his headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway. In this letter, addressed \"to my dear friends, beloved of my soul, the outstanding avreichim and the yeshiva students who toil in Torah\", the Rebbe announces that he is founding a new society called \"Adeinu\" (עדינו). The name comes from the Gemara in Moed Katan 16b, about King David, who \"delighted himself\" in Torah study. The society was to bring together young scholars from all yeshivos to share their chidushei Torah and to farbreng together.
THE LETTER
• An original letter on the Rebbe\'s printed bilingual letterhead: \"Rabbi I. Schneersohn of Lubavitz, 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn 13, N.Y., SLocum 6-2919\" and \"יוסף יצחק dir=\"ltr\" style=\"margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;\">• Dated ב\"ה, ט\"ו טבת תש\"ה (15 Teves 5705, December 1944)
• Typed in Hebrew on a Hebrew typewriter
• Marked \"העתקה\" (copy) at the top. This is an original typed copy from the Rebbe\'s office, on his own letterhead, as it was sent out to its recipients
• Closing with the Rebbe\'s name typed in brackets: \"(–יוסף יצחק)\"
• NOT HAND SIGNED
WHAT\'S INSIDE
The Rebbe writes that he is founding Chevras \"Adeinu\", with these terms:
• Its purpose is for avreichim and yeshiva students to meet from time to time, during bein hazmanim, to discuss chidushei Torah and to farbreng at a seudas mitzvah and on a \"yoma tava l\'rabbanan\"
• Each participant\'s chidushei Torah are to be submitted in writing, reviewed by a committee of scholars, and printed in special booklets published by the society
• Membership is open to all bnei Torah who conduct themselves as befits a Torah scholar, \"without difference of origin or nusach\"
• Members are free of all dues
• The farbrengens are to be held at the Lubavitch synagogue, 770 Eastern Parkway
• An anonymous donor \"who loves Torah and the fear of Heaven\" gave the sum of five hundred dollars, to be given as prizes, in books or cash, to outstanding participants after three gatherings
The Rebbe closes: \"Your friend, who holds bnei Torah dear, who respects and blesses you.\"
A remarkable document of the Rebbe\'s open hand to the entire yeshiva world, not only to Chabad, in America in 1944.
ABOUT THE WRITER: RABBI YOSEF YITZCHAK SCHNEERSOHN, THE RAYATZ (1880–1950)
The sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe was born in Lubavitch in 1880 and led Chabad from 1920. In Soviet Russia he fought to keep Judaism alive underground, and in 1927 he was arrested and sentenced to death, then freed on 12 Tammuz, a day still celebrated by Chassidim. He left Russia for Riga and later Warsaw. In 1940 he was rescued from Nazi-occupied Warsaw and brought to New York, where he settled at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. With his famous call that \"America is no different\", he founded yeshivos, schools, publishing houses and outreach organizations across America, laying the foundations on which his son-in-law and successor, the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, built the worldwide Chabad movement. He died on 10 Shevat 5710 (1950).
CONDITION
Good condition for its age. One page, clean and complete, with all text clear and fully legible. The paper has light even toning, with minor wear and small creases at the edges, especially the upper left corner, and a few small spots. Typed and NOT hand signed.
Please see the photos, which form part of the description.
WHO IT\'S FOR
Chabad and Lubavitch collectors, collectors of rabbinic letters and of 770 history, historians of American Orthodoxy and the yeshiva world, and anyone who wants an authentic piece of the Previous Rebbe\'s office from the war years.
KEYWORDS
Chabad, Lubavitch, Lubavitcher Rebbe, Previous Rebbe, Rayatz, Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn, Rabbi I. Schneersohn of Lubavitz, 770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Chassidus, Chevras Adeinu, yeshiva, avreichim, chidushei Torah, farbrengen, letterhead, original letter, 1944, World War II, American Jewish history, rabbinic letter, Judaica
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