General Assembly 5774, Kfar Chabad

00:12 Speaker 1 [unclear], since the Rabbi is traveling to the Rebbe tonight, with Hashem’s help, we all ask him, on behalf of all the residents of Kfar Chabad: in light of the beautiful unity we saw today in Kfar Chabad, which is not something to take for granted, please go to the Rebbe and say, “Rebbe, look: Kfar Chabad is completely united. They deserve Moshiach.” That is what we ask of the Rabbi, as everyone’s representative. Be well and be strong, and I ask that in five years, we meet with Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

00:49 Speaker 2 Five years.

00:54 Speaker 3 I think you can see it for yourselves. Road repairs and things like that are not to be taken for granted at times like these; it isn’t easy. Boruch Hashem, we managed that too, and we’re keeping on top of it. I think the thanks go to all seven members of the committee. It isn’t one person doing it; it’s everyone together, giving their time, offering good advice and helping out. So truly, many thanks to all the members who give their time.

01:20 Speaker 4 I also know—I’m not even sure anymore. But in any event, Rabbi Nachum Goldschmidt: there was once a decree. A nobleman in a town imposed heavy taxes on it. The Jews came to him and said, “We can’t manage; we haven’t the strength.” The nobleman said, “Let me examine your financial situation.” In short, he decided to go out on Motzaei Shabbos to see how the Jews lived. He came to the shul. The Jews were going out to say Kiddush Levanah. The nobleman saw them going outside, standing and dancing. He asked why they were standing there, and they told him they wanted the moon to be like the sun. I’m telling you about the levels of holiness simply because of the protocol. Under the protocol, it’s supposed to be every two and a half years—or two years—and another half year can be added under the rules governing the committee’s work, the village committee. I spent a great deal of time on this. Back then there was Reb Tzvi Buket[?], who published two books of the Rebbe’s letters to Kfar Chabad. I worked on letters, so today it got pushed aside for me—and it was always difficult for me. But in any event, the Rebbe wrote dozens and dozens of letters to the Kfar Chabad committee over the years. I think that in the vast majority of them, the Rebbe calls them the “administration of Kfar Chabad”—not the “Kfar Chabad committee,” but the “administration of Kfar Chabad.” Perhaps there are a few letters where the Rebbe distinguishes between the spiritual committee and the physical committee and writes to each one. But generally it is the “administration of Kfar Chabad.” Seemingly, [unclear]. I don’t know what “administration” means, or what bearing it has on my work here. What does “administration of Kfar Chabad” mean? In my view, it seems that the Rebbe saw the committee as something different. There are all kinds of committees—Jewish committees, labor organizations and so on. There is the administration of a yeshiva, the administration of an educational institution, and the Rebbe sees

03:20 Speaker 4 Kfar Chabad as having the administration of an institution of his. So, seemingly, he doesn’t define it as a committee. “Committee” is a secular name. There are also [unclear], but I don’t know what that means here for a local committee. In any event, the Rebbe saw the work in Kfar Chabad as work in holy institutions, in his institutions. And what a privilege it is for the committee members, who have merited to take this burden upon themselves. This isn’t about running a municipality or a regional council or a Jewish committee somewhere else; it is for the sake of the Rebbe’s shlichus. Some fulfill his shlichus in a yeshiva, in institutions or in Chabad Houses, and others fulfill his shlichus by shouldering the burden of Kfar Chabad. The Rebbe described Kfar Chabad as [unclear] several times. In any event, the Rebbe regarded it as something of his own, with an administration that runs it—the yeshiva, the... In practice, then, it comes out like this: institutions have administrations, and they don’t hold elections. Whoever joins the administration has the privilege of running the municipal council, but still, when you’re dealing with a community, it isn’t simple. So from time to time, elections are held. But right now, as I see it—and this is my opinion—we’ve discussed several times at previous meetings that there was a period when elections were held every two years. I remember the committee at that time, and the elections held after two and a half years. So let’s approve that. Those in favor, raise your hand. Anyone opposed? All right. Who’s opposed? Raise your hand. Salchan[?] is opposed. Thank you very much. I’m in a bit of a hurry because I’m traveling to the Rebbe tonight. I hope I can come to the Rebbe tomorrow morning with the good news that, boruch Hashem, a committee meeting—a general meeting—was held in Kfar Chabad,

05:35 Speaker 4 and everything went well. Amen; may there be peace.

05:51 Speaker 5 Someone who didn’t know.