The 28th of Sivan (4) - Safe Arrival in the US

00:00 The hemsech and continuation to the earlier installments where we discussed the 28th of Sivan, the events which led to the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin's arrival in the United States. We continue now with installment number four. Firstly, a first-hand impression about the Rebbe before he left in spring 1941, city of Nice in France, for Marseille to receive their visa, which was a visa for the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. In the Sefer Yemei Melech, it is told that many years after this event took place, Rabbi Yankev Moshe Rich Rothschild described the farewell, the goodbye when the Rebbe left Nice. And when he told the story, Rabbi Yankev Moshe cried very much. This was the feeling of the group of Yidden who revered the Rebbe in Marseille, and prior to that in Paris. But the Rebbe had a whole different plan that was worked out for him, which is leaving to the United States. And because of this, the Rebbe needed to part from these Yidden who were zecher merited to enjoy the light of the Rebbe many years before hundreds of thousands of Yidden received this light and the relationship of the Rebbe with-- to them. In Marseille, the Rebbe stayed a short time period, and also there, the Rebbe gave a long drashah, a long and deep speech to those who revered him, those who gathered around him. One of Anash, one of the Bobov Chassidim heard from a Rav, Rav Hazelbach, who was present at this drashah, that this was a unique speech that took

02:41 about an hour and a half. The first half hour, the Rebbe spoke in a manner which was understood to the listeners. But after that, the Rebbe began speaking on higher and deeper concepts. And with this, people felt an aura of a heavenly atmosphere. All the listeners were dragged into a spiritual experience which was at higher than all the limitations and difficulties. And now we will continue with installment number four. In continuation to what is related in the earlier installment, I'm gonna get to the effort to bring the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin to the United States. However, there might be difficulties in procuring the exit visa from France, as they would still have to obtain a transit visa from the country that they would actually depart from. Seven years later, the State Department again contacted Mr. Butler, this time with disturbing news. The consul in Nice has changed his mind. The Rebbe did not warrant a special visa. They based their reason for refusal on the contradiction of this visa request f- to the original application, which described the Rebbe as a qualified engineer knowledgeable in physics. However, they stated that he would probably be eligible for a regular visa, but he would need to resubmit his application together with a new affidavit promising financial support. Since the affidavit that was provided by Mayor B. Hartran was not from a close relative, nor did it specify for how long would the Rebbe be guaranteed support. This was stressing information for all. With this unfortunate delay, how

05:07 much longer could the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin remain stranded in Europe with the Germans only miles away? Mr. Butler reassured Haguda Sidichabad at this time that since the government previously agreed to issue special visas to the entire family of the previous Rebbe, he plans on continuing to pressure the State Department, despite the refusal of the consul in Nice, to give them to the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. In addition to Mr. Butler, who was hired by Haguda Sidichabad, the previous Rebbe asked the Chassid, Rab Osher Rabinovich, to assist them in Washington. As one of the attorneys involved with the rescue efforts of the Schneerson family, he had been instrumental in successfully helping the previous Rebbe escape war-torn Europe. In the course of those efforts, he also developed many contacts with high officials in Washington. In a letter to Rabosha, the previous Rebbe writes, "To my pain, with all their promises and quote, unquote, sweet talk, as of yet nothing has been finalized. I am broken from this." In order to satisfy the request of the council in Nice, our good Losire Chabad sent a formal letter stating that the Rebbe, as one of the main leaders of the movement, was entitled to a special visa. On the 22nd of Kislev, Rabosha Rabinovich returned from Washington and gave the previous Rebbe a report on his efforts. The previous Rebbe wrote in a letter the following day, "While it sounds very good, I am still not comforted." Around the same time, the Rebbe made an unusual request. He

07:01 asked that his file be forwarded to the council in Marseille. On this side of the Atlantic, the previous Rebbe sent his son-in-law, the Rashad, Rabshmari Gurari, on the 19th of Shevat to Washington to help further this inquiry. With the assistance of high-ranking officials in the State Department, the Rebbe's file was transferred to Marseille. The Council of Marseille was also informed that an affidavit was not required since, as far as the State Department was concerned, financial support was guaranteed. At the time, it was not clear why the Rebbe wanted to transfer his application to Marseille and begin the process anew. After the war, it became known that the Council in Nice consciously avoided giving visas to Jews and would use any excuse to deny one. In contrast, the Consulat in Marseille was sympathetic toward Jews and assisted them readily. Indeed, a mere two months later, on the 26th of Adar, the Council in Marseille informed the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin that they would be issued visas. A month later, on the 20th of Nisan, they received the visas. We will, Mirceshem, continue in the next installment.