The 28th of Sivan: Part Six

00:01 Behemsech, in continuation to the earlier installments where we discussed the 28th of Sivan, and in particular, the boat on which the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin traveled to the United States, we continue now with installment number six, discussing the trip and the final arrival in the United States. Stopping first in Barcelona, Spain, the boat continued on its perilous journey to America. It was a trip the travelers would never forget, constantly fraught with the fear of being torpedoed by submarines or bombed by the warplanes which passed overhead. One can only imagine the terror the passengers must have felt when the captain announced that they must stop in the middle of the sea because they had been spotted by the deadly German submarines. On one such occasion, the Rebbe went out on the deck of the boat and led the Yidden there in the recitation of the chapter 20 in Tehillim, Lam Natzeach, and as it continues, Yancho Hashem B'yim Tzocha. It was also noted that on Friday night, the Rebbe recited Kiddush for all to hear. Nothing occurred at the time, Baruch Hashem, and they passed through the European war zone uneventfully. When they had reached neutral waters, the Rebbe immediately telegraphed the previous Rebbe, informing him of their relative safety. While this essay demonstrates the lengths the previous Rebbe went on behalf of his family, he did not rest after the Rebbe and Rebbetsin were saved. Once these diplomatic connections were made, the previous Rebbe continued to help other displaced Jews obtain American visas. In addition,

02:18 when the previous Rebbe realized that the State Department was willing to intervene and make the extra effort of rescuing important individuals from the clutches of the Nazis, he presented them with names of many people. One of the great rabbis saved through the previous Rebbe's intervention was the Gerrer Rebbe, Horav Avraham Mordechai Alter, Zecha Tzadik Livracha. By saving such illustrious individuals, entire communities were rebuilt after the war. He also attempted to save the Bobover Rebbe at the time, Horav Ben Zion. Twelve days later, on Monday morning of Parashat Kedach, Chof Ches Sivan, the 28th of Sivan, July 4th, 1941, the boat steamed into New York's harbor and docked at 10.30 a.m. On that day, the previous Rebbe wrote to Rabbi Rabinovich, informing him of this joyous event and requesting that he in turn informs his son, Rab Osher, who was instrumental in helping the Rebbe and Rebbetsin obtain their visas. Due to health reasons, the previous Rebbe was confined to 770 and could not make the trip himself. He sent a delegation of Hasidic elders on his behalf to greet the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin at the pier. They were Rab Yisroel Jacobson, Rab Shlema Aharon Kazanovsky, Rab Shmuel Levitin, and Rab Elia Simpson. On the previous evening, the previous Rebbe had summoned these Hasidim to his room and told them, I appoint you as my emissaries to go and greet my son-in-law who is arriving tomorrow. I will reveal to you what sort of a person he is. Every night, he says Tikkun Chatzes. He

04:27 is fluent orally in the Talmud Bavli, that's the Babylonian Talmud, with all of its commentaries. In the Talmud Yerushalmi, the Jerusalem Talmud, with all of its commentaries. He knows Rambam and the Likutei Teydah verbatim, with all of its sources. Go and greet him. On this day, the previous Rebbe immediately wrote a letter to one of the Hasidim in which he relays the news about the safe arrival of the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin. It reads as follows. I am hereby informing you that my daughter and her husband have arrived here safely. I am writing this hastily and with the request that you pass this news on to your son, Mr. Osher, as we mentioned earlier. In the same day, the previous Rebbe added and requested that this good news should be forwarded to quote-unquote my good friends and mentioned them by their names. When the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin came to 770, the students of the Yeshivat Enchei Tmimim were waiting to greet them. Rab Leibel Pozner, zal zayn gezunt, a noted Hasid, who was then a young student studying in the Yeshiva at 770 Eastern Parkway, relates the following impression. I remember very well as it is presently in front of my eyes the emotional scene when the Rebbe arrived in 770. I will never forget when all the young students went out to greet them. This was the first time that the Rebbe entered 770. Now, the article continues. Three days later, on Thursday, the Rebbe and Rebbetsin were called to the previous Rebbe's

06:27 room separately. The Rebbe explained that the previous Rebbe waited three days to see them since Hasidus demands that the emotions be controlled. Thursday night after Ma'arev, on the eve of Beis Tammuz, the Rebbe farbrenged with Hasidim for the first time in America. The farbrengen lasted for six hours. A short time later, the previous Rebbe appointed the Rebbe to head his three newly established organizations. Machane Yisroel, whose objective is strengthening Judaism through the fulfillment of Teydah Mitzvahs and arouse the hearts of all Jews to repent. In addition, its role is to publicize that through repentance, we will immediately merit the redemption through Mashiach Tzedekenu. The Rebbe was also appointed as head of the Kohot Publication Society, which is responsible for publishing Svarim of Chabad Hasidus. He will also take charge of Merkaz L'inyoni Chinuch, whose responsibility is to ensure a proper Jewish education for every Jewish boy and girl. And this also included publishing books in English. We will im Yirtzeh Hashem continue in the next installment.