The 28th of Sivan: Nes Hahatzola

00:01 The 28th of Sivan. On this day in the year Tov Shenal of 1941, the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin arrived safely in the United States. This day is commemorated and celebrated by Hasidim universally as this signifies two points. One, the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin's arrival in the middle of World War II from a burning Europe to safe shores in the United States. Number two, the beginning of a new era, the Rebbe's tireless work and launching of endless initiatives benefiting the Jewish nation and the world at large. Hence, this year, Tov Shen Pe'yaleph, 2021, the 80th anniversary, it is noted in particular as a unique milestone in history. In a sicha that the Rebbe gave on the 12th of Tammuz Tov Shen Yud, 1950, which noted the geulah liberation of the previous Rebbe from his incarceration in a Russian prison in 1927, the Rebbe elaborated on commemorating a miracle. The Rebbe said as follows, There are various sorts of miracle. Number one, a miracle which took place with the individual person himself. A personal miracle. Number two, a lower level than this is a miracle which took place with a person's father. It is considered that it took place with the person himself since he is part of his father. Number three, a lower level than this is a miracle which took place with a person's rav or mentor. And the Rebbe explains the difference between a miracle that took place with a mentor of the person or the father of a person. A father brings his

02:13 child to Elem Hazet, to this world, and partially to Elem Haba, to the world to come. But a mentor, when he gives his student Elem Haba, it is doubtful because the study may not be lishma, may not be sincere, and therefore he might be lacking the reward in the world to come. The Rebbe cites the sources for this in the sicha as he edited the sicha after that. Number four, a miracle which took place with a specific person and his connection with this person is very remote since in reality he may not have any relationship to this person. But he believes in the person because he is a public figure and therefore assumes that he has a connection and could relate to the person. The highest level is a miracle which took place with a Rebbe. This sort of a miracle is not like a miracle which took place with a specific person or one's mentor or one's father, but with himself mamish. Because this tachrus, the connection of the Rebbe, the Nasi, with his generation is not as two separate entities, but as one body. The generation are the organs which receive the chayas, the energy from the Nasi, the head. In commemorating this event, we will, im yirtza Hashem, begin a series of numerous installments relating to the history of this special day. First, we will relate to the background of the day, historically speaking, as written by a popular author, Rabbi Sholom Ber Avtzin, in his book, A Day to Recall, A

04:19 Day to Remember. Rabbi Avtzin writes the following, The Rebbe's daring escape from war-torn Europe was a miracle worthy of its place in the annals of Chabad history. Our appreciation is only deepened when we learn that the Rebbe was actually fleeing from the Germans, yimach shmam, who were actively pursuing him specifically. Always one step ahead of them, the miracles continued even after they had made the desperate journey across Europe and embarked on a boat to head towards America. America had been known as the land that swallows its inhabitants, the expression in Parshas Shlach, this week's Parsha. The majority of Jewish families that moved to the United States to escape the persecutions of Europe were affected by their new surroundings. This caused them to become lax in their observance of Jewish law and a loss of pride in their heritage. The Rebbe fought to turn this tide of assimilation. Due to his efforts, Torah, Yiddishkeit, and even the Hasidic way of life is flourishing in America and throughout the world. And it all began that summer day on the 28th of Sivan Tov Shenal of 1941 when the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin arrived in America. Vehemshach in continuation to the earlier installment where we discussed the 28th of Sivan The event of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin's arrival in the United States, we continue now with installment number two. On the 12th of Tammuz, Tafresh Peisai in 1927, the previous Rebbe was finally permitted to return from his exile in Kastrama. After the harrowing prison experience in

06:31 which the previous Rebbe was jailed, interrogated, and even threatened with death, it became obvious that Russia was no longer a safe home for the previous Rebbe. In order for his work to continue, he must leave. Through intense diplomatic efforts, especially on the part of Mordechai Dubin, who also worked in the Latvian Parliament and was a Hasid of the previous Rebbe, the Russian government reluctantly allowed the previous Rebbe with his immediate family to emigrate to Riga, Latvia. After their initial refusal, they also allowed the Rebbe, the previous Rebbe's future son-in-law, to leave Russia as well. While the previous Rebbe made plans to leave immediately after Sukkes, the Rebbe, son-in-law, did not travel to Riga with him. Uncertain as to when he would ever see his parents again, the Rebbe returned to Yekaterina's love to spend Tishrei with his family. A week later, on the following Thursday, the Rebbe bade his father farewell. Together with his mother, who was permitted to accompany him only until the Russian border, he began the long journey that took him to Riga, where he joined the previous Rebbe and his family. For various reasons, mainly because of a lack of funds, the Hasid of the wedding did not take place immediately when the Rebbe arrived in Riga. It was decided that the Rebbe would temporarily settle in Germany. Arrangements were made for room and board for the Rebbe, allowing him to continue his learning undisturbed. A year and six weeks later, on Yud Dalet Kislev, the 14th of Kislev, in November

08:47 of 1928, the Hasid of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin took place in Warsaw. They returned to Berlin shortly afterwards. Occasionally, they would travel to Berlin to visit the previous Rebbe and his household. In the early 30s, the Nazi party began to gain power with acts of anti-Semitism becoming increasingly rampant. In Nisan of Tafresh, Sadagim in 1933, the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin hurriedly left Germany. The Rebbe left in a hurry behind his furnishings, etc. They arrived in Paris, France a few days before Pesach. In France, the Rebbe delivered Shiurim and involved himself with some communal activities. The Jewish community of Paris recognized the Rebbe's scholarship. However, they respected his wish for privacy and was thankful for what the Rebbe contributed on his own initiative. This allowed him to continue his learning uninterrupted. The tranquil life the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin found in France did not last. Six years later, in September of 1939, Poland fell to the Germans. The previous Rebbe, who had moved from Riga to Atvatsk in September of 1932, was now trapped inside Poland. Immediately, the Rebbe became involved and spearheaded the campaign to save the previous Rebbe. He was in constant contact with Agudas Chabad in America and gave them all the relevant information needed to procure visas from the State Department, allowing the previous Rebbe to come to the United States. In America, meanwhile, Agudas Chabad decided that the Rebbe's presence was needed in the States to effectively ensure the previous Rebbe's escape from the Germans. They applied for a visa

11:16 for the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. Knowing that the American government was reluctant to allow immigrants to settle without being assured of their ability to make an income, they stated that the Rebbe received an engineering degree. The Rebbe will thus be able to seek employment as soon as he arrives in the United States and will not be a burden to the country. They also forwarded a copy of the affidavit from Mayor B. Harten to the Rebbe, promising to financially support the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin until he finds a position. Agudas Chabad knew that the visa application process was normally a long and arduous one, often taking up to six months. Using what influence they had at the time in Washington, they put pressure on the government to hasten the procedure. Meanwhile, the Rebbe applied for a visa from the American Consulate in Paris. Three months later, their efforts on behalf of the previous Rebbe were fruitful. At the request of the State Department, the previous Rebbe was escorted by the Germans out of Poland into then neutral Latvia. At that point, the United States also agreed to allow the previous Rebbe and his immediate family and circle to apply for special visas on the basis that the family was an important part of Jewish tradition in Europe that should be preserved. Included in the group were the previous Rebbe's wife, Rebbetsin Chaya Mushka, his mother, the Rebbetsin Stirah, and her nurse, his son-in-law, the Rashag, Rav Shmaryahu Gourary and his family, his secretaries, Rabbi Chodikov and

13:28 Rabbi Dr. Mendel. Included in the list of the family members who would be granted these special visas was the Rebbe, who was noted as being the editor of a scholarly journal, as well as an extraordinary thinker who would contribute to Jewish philosophy. We will, im yirtze Hashem, continue in the next installment. The continuation to the earlier installments where we discussed the story of the twenty-eighth of Sivan, the events which led up to the Rebbe and the Rebbetsin's safe arrival in the United States. We continue now with installment number three. While they worked tirelessly to ensure a safe passage for the previous Rebbe and those who were with him in Latvia, Agudas Yisroel Chabad was hesitant at this time to pressure the State Department to grant the Rebbe, the son-in-law, a special visa. There were some discrepancies between the information they previously provided in the regular visa application and what they included now in the special visa. In the routine application the Rebbe filled out in Paris, he was listed as a qualified electrical engineer. In the special visa, he was described as a noted Torah scholar. They feared that these contradictions would come to light and might delay or even, chas v'shalom, jeopardize the entire application, including that of the previous Rebbe, who was then in an ex-extremely dangerous situation where immediate departure was crucial. After receiving word that the previous Rebbe received his special visa and can finally leave Europe, the attorney for Agudas Yisroel Chabad, Mr. Henry F. Butler, began to actively request

15:39 the visas for the remaining members of the family. Among those who had not yet received a special visa with the previous Rebbe was his son-in-law, the Rebbe, and his daughter, the Rebbetsin, the previous son-in-law and his daughter living in France, and the previous Rebbe's youngest daughter, Rebbetsin Sheina, and her husband, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hakenhorenstein, who had remained in Poland. In the spring of 1940, seeing that Germany was poised to attack France, the Rebbe signed up to join in the reserves of the French army. This allowed the Rebbe the relative safety of having proper identification in Paris at the time. More importantly, his enlistment ID eventually assisted him in his escape from Paris to Vichy. On June 2nd, 1940, Mr. Butler met with representatives of the State Department. They informed him that the request for a special visa for the Rebbe was forwarded from the American Consulate in Riga, Latvia, to the Consulate in France. From there, it, it was to be sent to Paris. At the same time, the Rebbe informed the Maskirus, the secretariat of the previous Rebbe, that re-the request for a special visa had arrived in Paris, but there were some complications holding up the issuing of a visa. Three days later, June 5th, the American Consulate telegraphed to Washington its decision regarding the Rebbe's special visa, and they wrote, "Visa denied." They had rejected the request, citing the contradiction between the description of the Rebbe as a great Torah scholar and his own application, which listed him merely as an engineer.

17:51 The attorney immediately requested evidence from Agudas Yisroel Chabad that notwithstanding the fact that the Rebbe had an engineering degree, he is indeed a Jewish scholar of repute, deserving of a special visa. Over the next few days, this sense of urgency deepened. The Nazis, yimach shmam, entered and conquered Paris. A French general offered the Rebbe his villa In the suburbs of Paris as a safe haven until the situation improved. The Rebbe, having seen firsthand how ruthlessly the Nazis operated, declined and chose to flee to Vichy. Interesting to note that when the Rebbe's biography was prepared and, uh, to be published, the Rebbe reviewed it, and there was a sentence that cited that the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin are running to Vichy. The Rebbe crossed out the word "borchim," which means running, and instead, the Rebbe wrote, "Matikim," they are moving merely to Vichy. Which this shows the gein yankeh, the pride, the Yiddishe pride, that a Yid goes from one place to another, he doesn't run. The reason that the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin went to Vichy, because at that time it was still unoccu-occupied by the German army. As a precaution, until they will be able to move from Paris, they moved to a different apartment. This indeed was a lifesaver. For two days after their move, the Nazis came to the old address, looking specifically for the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. A few days before Shavuos, at great personal risk, the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin managed to board one of the last trains leaving

20:16 Paris, successfully evading the German patrols. They arrived in Vichy on Erev Shavuos. They remained in Vichy for approximately two months. They then moved to Nice. Nice, which is a co-coastal resort in the southern part of France. Despite the fact that Nice was occupied by the Italian fascist, uh, government, who were allies of Germany, it was relatively safe for Jews. At the end of Av, Mr. Butler requested that the visa application be forwarded to the American Consulate in Nice. Three weeks later, they received the good tidings. The State Department informed Mr. Butler that the consul in Nice intended to give the Rebbe and Rebbetzin a special visa. We will, im yirtze Hashem, continue in the next installment. Behemsich in 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 firsthand 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 Meir Rothschild described the farewell, the goodbye, when the Rebbe left Nice. And when he told the story, Rabbi Yankev Meir 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

22:52 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 drash, 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 drash, that this was a unique speech that took 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 in higher and deeper concepts, and with this, people felt an aura of the 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 v-visa from the country that they would actually depart from. Seven years later, the State Department again contacted Mr. Butler,

25:19 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. Harten 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 much longer could the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin remain stranded in Europe with the Germans only miles away? Mr. Butler reassured Agudas Chasidei Chabad 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 Agudas Chasidei Chabad, the previous Rebbe asked the Hasid, Rab Osher Rabinowitz, 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

27:24 letter to Rab Osher, 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 consul in Nice, Agudas Chasidei Chabad sent a formal letter stating that the Rebbe, as one of the main l-leaders of the movement, was entitled to a special visa. On the twenty-second of Kislev, Rab Osher Rabinowitz 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 asked that his file be forwarded to the consul in Marseille. On this side of the Atlantic, the previous Rebbe sent his son-in-law, the Rashag, Rab Shmarye Gurary, on the nineteenth of Shevat to Washington to help further this inquiry. With the assistance of high-raking-- ranking officials in the St-State Department, the Rebbe's file was transferred to Marseille. The consul in 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 consul in Nice consciously avoided giving visas to Jews and would use any excuse to deny one. In contrast, the, the consulate in Marseille was

29:21 sympathetic toward Jews and assisted them readily. Indeed, a mere two months later, on the twenty-sixth of Adar, the consul in Marseille informed the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin that they would be issued visas. A month later, on the twentieth of Nissan, they received the visas. continue in the next installment. in honor of the twenty-eighth of Sivan, the day that the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin arrived safely in the United States during the wartime in nineteen forty-one. The continuation to the earlier installments where we discussed the twenty-eighth of Sivan and the efforts and events that finally led to the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin's arrival in the United States. We continue now with installment number five. Now, a new challenge faced the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. How will they reach America? During the war, the only viable option for travel was by boat, and at that time, the only port that they could depart from was in Lisbon, Portugal. The Rebbe had his American visa. Now he needed a transit visa from Portugal, one which will allow him to pass through the country. With the help of the previous Rebbe- They received the transit visas that allowed them to travel to Lisbon. They also managed to acquire the much sought-after boat tickets that will safely take them to America on one of the last boats crossing the Atlantic. The Rebbe and the Rebbetzin arrived in Lisbon and prepared to travel on the ship that will finally take them to safety. Just as they were about to board the boat,

31:40 an urgent telegram from the previous Rebbe arrived with surprising instructions. It said, "Do not board this boat." The Rebbe and the Rebbetzin did not hesitate for a moment. They allowed the boat to depart without them, despite the fact that this was rumored to be the last ship out of Portugal heading towards the United States. Indeed, this was a wise move, for a few days later they heard that the boat was captured by the Italian Navy, and all of the passengers were held captive as prisoners of war. They were held on an island until the end of the war. Soon after their miraculous rescue from this fate, the Rebbe was notified that yet another boat will venture across the Atlantic, making the trip to America. However, they were told of this ship's embarking too late. All the tickets had already been purchased. Reb Mordechai Bystritsky happened to have bought two of these prize tickets for his in-laws, Reb Levi and Rechama Lukever. Unfortunately, the couple was not granted the necessary Portuguese transit visit- visas and were unable to leave France. When Reb Mordechai heard of the Rebbe's predicament, he gladly gave his tickets to the Rebbe. In a footnote in the article by Rabbi Yavtzon, he writes that, however, it should be mentioned that American Joint Committee chartered this boat, as well as many others, and assisted the previous Rebbe in obtaining the two tickets. On the 16th of Sivan, the Rebbe wrote a Reshima, an essay in which the Rebbe elaborates on a quote of

33:57 our sages in the Tractate of Sanhedrin 98a, and the Rebbe cites sources from the Talmud and from Kabbalah in great depth. This we will, Im Yirtze Hashem, discuss on a separate note, referring to focusing on the contents of the essay and the upcoming trip to the United States. On the 17th of Sivan, the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin finally boarded the boat Serpa Pinta. Based on documentation, this boat was one of many which the Joint rented, at least in 1939, to rescue Jewish refugees from Europe. Many of these refugees had visas with which to enter the United States and paid for their tickets with their personal money. In its second trip in 1941, the boat included 600 passengers, and amongst them, the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin, and they all arrived in New York. In middle of the trip, the boat was held up by a British information boat for three days. A search was made for German citizens. In general, these trips experienced hazardous episodes. During this time period, about 500 commercial boats were sunk. The last voyage of this boat was in 1944. In certain archives, one can research the total amount of trips which the boat made from 1939 until her last voyage. We will, Im Yirtze Hashem, continue in the next installment. 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 Rebbetzin traveled to the United States, we continue now with installment number six, discussing the trip

36:26 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 Natzeyach, and as it continues, Yancho Hashem Biym Tzorah. 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 Rebbetzin were saved. Once these diplomatic connections were made, the previous Rebbe continued to help other displaced Jews obtain American visas. In addition, 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

38:43 saved through the previous Rebbe's intervention was the Gera Rebbe, Horav Avrom 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 Parsha 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 Asher, who was instrumental in helping the Rebbe and the 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 Yisrael Jacobson, Rab Shlomo 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 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 Likute Teydah verbatim. With all of its

40:53 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. Asher, 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 Im Chet Mime were waiting to greet them. Rab Leibel Pozner zal zayng gezunt, a noted Hasid who was then a young student studying in the Yeshivat 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 the Rebbetsin were called to the previous Rebbe's 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 the Hasidim

42:51 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 Yisrael, whose objective is strengthening Judaism Through the fulfillment of Torah 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 Moshiach Tzidkeinu. The Rebbe was also appointed as head of the Kohot Publication Society, which is responsible for publishing sefarim of Chabad Hasidus. He will also take charge of Merkos L'Inyani 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 yirtza Hashem, continue in the next installment. Vehem shechem, in continuation to the previous installment about the arrival of the Rebbe and the Rebbets in the United States, we will now discuss the first farbrengen of the Rebbe on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, Thursday, 12 Shinalef, 1941, in 770. The farbrengen came after a request of Hasidim who asked of the Rebbe if he could farbreng with them. And the Rebbe responded that Thursday, when he will have a chance to be called up to the Torah and recite the blessing of HaGeimel, he will, after that, farbreng. Indeed, three days later, on Thursday night after Ma'arev, on the eve of Beis Tammuz, the second of Tammuz, the Rebbe farbrenged with the Hasidim for the first time in America. The Rebbe entered the shul 9

45:01 p.m., where a small crowd had already gathered. With his siddur in his hand, the Rebbe proceeded to the table and began the farbrengen. At first, the Rebbe requested of the elder Hasidim who were present that they speak, but they declined in anticipation to hear what the Rebbe had to say. Throughout the night, in addition to his own scholarly talk on the Mishnah Albot Tzrichim Va'edes, expounding upon obligation of expressing gratitude to Hashem after overcoming various phases of danger, the Rebbe responded to questions and Hasidus that were posed by those present. A most memorable incident that took place on the night that almost every time that the Rebbe made mention of his father-in-law, the previous Rebbe, his voice began to choke and tears formed in the corners of his eyes. Present at the farbrengen was also a group of American yeshiva students who had traveled to Otwock, Poland, to join the Yeshivat Emchik Mimim there prior to the war. While on their trip, during their layover in France, they spent a few hours in the train station together with the Rebbe, who had come to see them. Now, the Rebbe continued to discuss some of the Torah-related issues that they had spoken about at the time. In between the talks, the Hasidim sang various nigunim. In one of the sichas, the Rebbe mentioned that American bochurim, students in yeshiva, are known to be well-versed in the sichas of the previous Rebbe in Lukut HaDibburim. Sichas talks of the previous Rebbe, which were delivered in the 1930s.

47:01 The Rebbe began testing the bochurim as to their knowledge. Another event that took place at this farbrengen, the Rebbe spoke about the nigun of Rab Mikho Zlotchever. The Hashem Tif said about the nigun of Rab Mikho Zlotchever that whoever will sing it, Hashem Tif continues, wherever he will be, he will awaken mercy, rachamim rabim, for those who are singing this nigun. And the Rebbe said that this nigun has two versions, but the version that was accepted by the Rebbe Rashab and by the previous Rebbe is a version sung by Rab Mikho Dvorkin. And the Rebbe then began singing the nigun.