Art: Part 12- Reb Hendel Lieberman

00:02 This is Behemshech, in continuation to the earlier installments where we cited the Rebbe's directive to artists on various paintings, et cetera. We now continue with installment number 12, citing a response from the Rebbe to the famous artist, Rab Hendel Lieberman. Firstly, to have a glimpse into this special Hasid, Rab Hendel, would be best to cite from an introduction to an issue of the Yiddish Aheim, a quarterly issue published by the Neseh of Nes Chabad in Nisan Tov Shin Lamed Vav 1976, translated here into English. The cover of our present issue, number 67, Yiddish Aheim, was drawn by the great Hasidic artist, Rab Hendel Lieberman, who was the brother of the legendary Hasid, Rab Mendel Futterfas. Rab Hendel was nifter on Tainess Esther on the 13th of Adar, just a month earlier to this publication. His beautiful paintings, based on deep Yiddish and hardy Hasidic motifs, have already illuminated and illuminated many of our issues. The painting on the cover of this issue depicts the image of a Bar Mitzvah bocher as he reached the highlight of his entering into the world of Teida Mitzvahs by fulfilling the commandment of putting on Tefil. The content of this image is a specific sense and a symbolic point in the personality of this great Hasidic artist. Despite his tragic, lonely life over a period of decades, he lost his wife and his children in the war years during World War II. Nevertheless, he bubbled with, with youth energy and with Jewish Hasidic hopefulness. And with this same bruise

02:19 from his youth, he has, with his amazing artistic work, refreshed the exclusive beauty of the Yiddishkeit world, the source of light in a life of Teida and Mitzvahs, the soul richness of the Hasidic way of life. Being a descendant of generations from famous Hasidic families was observed in his personality as well as in his artwork, which expressed the colorful Hasidic heritage, the Hasidic warmth, the ultimate feeling of friendship, being accessible for everyone, not irritable at all, and the Hasidic life and joy in fulfilling a mitzvah, a word of Teida and Trila. And again, as mentioned earlier, despite his bitter life experiences. And as the waters reflect the face image, likewise does the heart of man to man. Rab Hendel has benefited much reverence and friendship, love from the entire Hasidic public, from adults as from children, and primarily merited to receive great kidruvim from the Rebbe. We can add on an additional note, everyone who participated in the Rebbe's fabrengens recalls when Rab Hendel would stand up at the Rebbe's fabrengen on a bench during the nigunim. He would conduct with his hands as a musical conductor in accordance with the rhythm of the bove or section of the nigun. It was at a certain fabrengen, Shabbos Minnitov Shin Yud Beis 1952, when the Rebbe mentioned to Rab Hendel regarding his art exhibition at the art gallery on 57th Street in New York. As mentioned in an earlier installment, it was in the year Tov Shin Chafei 1965, the Rebbe instructed Rab Hendel to draw

04:43 an outline of the city Lubavitch. As the Rebbe mentioned to him that he was never in Lubavitch and he wanted to know the location of shuls, etc., and he should label where everything was located in the city Lubavitch. And this was done by Rab Hendel and Rab Zalmi Shim and Dvorkin, the Rav, the Moreh d'Asra of the Shchuna at the time, also confirmed it with his signature. In the year Tov Shin Lamed Beis 1972, Rab Hendel was planning a trip across the United States to show exhibits of his artwork in coordination with the local shluchim in the cities. This was his reaction to what the Rebbe instructed him as a chinuch show to be mekarav Yidden by Jewish Hasidic qualitative and authentic paintings. The Rebbe responded the following, in general, it would be noteworthy to make an exhibition also in Eretz Yisrael. Therefore, in order to minimize the expenses, the exhibition in Eretz Yisrael should follow an exhibition which will take place in another location. And then the Rebbe adds the following points, but to be cautious not to cross the international date line during the Sefirah days, as the Rebbe has discussed this many times in talks and in letters, that this interferes with the Sefirah days counting. In addition, to verify the time which is appropriate in those countries and to plan the trips accordingly. And the Rebbe concludes, asker al hatziyim, I will mention his name and everything included at the resting place of the previous Rebbe. And the Rebbe instructs the

06:53 secretariat that they should return all the material that Rab Hendel sent in to the Rebbe.