A REGULAR IN THE HOME OF THE REBBE AND REBBETZIN

For years, he was in the Rebbe’s home every evening and became like a part of the family. When he married, his family had the privilege of being treated like family by Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. This connection between the Rebbetzin and the children of Reb Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman continued through the years. * In a first ever interview, R’ Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman and his sons, R’ Yosef Yitzchok, R’ Uri, and R’ Noach, share their personal recollections of the special treatment that they received from the Rebbe and Rebbetzin. * Part 1 of 2.

For many years, I dreamed of sitting down with R’ Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman and schmoozing with him (interview? forget about it) about the special connection that he had with Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka and the special relationship that he had over the years with Beis Rebbi.

Actually, this dream dates back to a summer evening in Elul 1985, when my oldest sister got engaged to R’ Yosef Yitzchok Holtzman, the eldest son in the Holtzman family. The L’chaim took place in our home in Petach Tikva. On the table there was liquor, cakes, and glass bottles of Coca-Cola, and the atmosphere was full of excitement.

The excitement reached a peak when my future brother-in-law asked permission to make a long-distance phone call to the Rebbetzin to inform her about the shidduch. My late father obviously agreed (despite the fact that the cost then was 6-7 shekels per minute), and my brother-in-law simply made the call, as if he were calling his own grandmother, and told the Rebbetzin the news. She was very happy for him, blessed him, and even asked to speak to the kalla.

This was a very brief conversation, in which the Rebbetzin wished her mazal tov, and my sister practically swallowed her tongue from excitement. This did not prevent the Rebbetzin from later referring to the fact that “we had a very pleasant conversation.” The Rebbetzin also revealed that before the Rebbe left the house that day, as he was holding the envelopes filled with correspondence, she told him that a request for a blessing for the shidduch of Yosef Yitzchok Holtzman had come, and the Rebbe wished her that “you should have nachas ruach from him.”

Since that time, the family connection led to numerous encounters between us. The father Holtzman would never agree to talk about his time in the Rebbe’s home. He did not understand why and for what purpose, and “what need is there,” and anyway “I have nothing to tell.”

A few months back, we spent a few days together in Montreal for the wedding of his grandson, my nephew Shneur Zalman. Apparently, the time shared over a few days softened his position, and I used the opportunity to sit down with him and his sons, my brother-in-law R’ Yosef Yitzchok, R’ Uri, and R’ Noach, who together shared their memories of their connection with the home of the Rebbe.

This is the first time that R’ Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman agreed to reveal just a few details of the years of close connection that he experienced, and it is an honor for me to share this with the readers of Beis Moshiach.

FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH RAMASH

R’ Holtzman was born on Thursday, 16 Shevat 5694 in Paris, France. His father was R’ Yitzchok Manis Holtzman. He spent the war years in hiding in Nazi occupied Paris.

His first acquaintance with the Rebbe took place two years after the end of WWII, as a youth in Paris in 5707. The Rebbe had come then on a special trip for the purpose of meeting his mother, Rebbetzin Chana, who had escaped the Soviet vale of tears with great miracles. During that period, he spent a few months in the capital of France in order to help his mother arrange her papers. The Rebbe also used that trip, as per the instructions of his father-in-law the Rebbe Rayatz, to visit all of the Chabad institutions in Paris and the surrounding areas. One of the places that he visited was the school for youth established by Reb Zalman Schneersohn, under the administration of Reb Aharon Mordechai Zilberstrom.

The young Yaakov Tzvi was one of the students who had the opportunity to meet Ramash (as the Rebbe was then known) on that occasion. Ramash tested the students on the laws of blessings over food. As a prize, Ramash promised to send publications of Kehos to those who did well on the test. Yaakov Tzvi was one of the top performers on that test.

At this event, the youngster asked the Rebbe to arrange a “certificate” (a student visa) to the USA, so that he could learn near the Rebbe Rayatz. The Rebbe agreed on condition that he receive permission from his mother, who was widowed during the war.

“The Rebbe spoke to my mother, Mrs. Sheindel Toiba Holtzman, and she agreed, but requested that the Rebbe keep in touch with me in the distant USA.

“When I think about it today, I realize that this was a spiritual feat of strength and greatness on the part of my mother to agree to my traveling. She had lost a husband and three daughters only a few short years earlier, during the war. She remained with two sons, myself and my brother. Despite that, she agreed to send me to learn in yeshiva in faraway America, and only my brother remained with her.”

Why did you not go to learn in yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel?

“First of all, in those years, Eretz Yisroel was in a state of war, the War of Independence. Secondly, since we were already familiar with Chabad as a result of my learning by Rabbi Schneersohn, it made sense for me to continue in a community that I was familiar with. Thirdly, the main yeshiva that was in New York had a dormitory, something which was practically nonexistent in any other yeshiva at the time. That is why, in my class, there were many young fellows from various Chassidic groups, due to the option to live in the dormitory.”

The Rebbe did not forget his promise, and about one year later, in 5708, Rashag came to visit the institutions in Paris on a mission from the Rebbe Rayatz, and he brought the awaited visa.

By the way, R’ Holtzman just missed out on the rare opportunity to have the Rebbe participate in his bar mitzva celebration, as it took place two weeks prior to his arrival, in the same large room in the home of R’ Zalman Schneersohn in which the Rebbe farbrenged with the Chassidim during his stay in Paris.

MEMORIES OF THE TRANSITION OF THE NESIUS

R’ Holtzman arrived in the United States in the year 5709 and had the privilege of going in for yechidus with the Rebbe Rayatz three times, although he was only a bachur. His son, R’ Yosef Yitzchok, says, “Abba never spoke about what happened in these yechiduyos,” glancing at his father, apparently hoping that this time might be different. However, R’ Holtzman senior shakes his head and chooses instead to describe the appearance of the Rebbe Rayatz:

“His face was like that of an angel of G-d. Something extraordinary. It seems to me that the pictures do not reflect his unique countenance, although maybe a bit in the last picture of him…” To emphasize the point, he adds, “I remember that once a certain Admor came to Williamsburg, and a few of us bachurim from the yeshiva went to see him on Shabbos afternoon. We were at his tish and used the opportunity to check out the tish of a few other Admorim who lived in the area; none of them had a glowing countenance like the Rebbe Rayatz.”

During that period, R’ Yaakov Tzvi learned in the yeshiva branch on Bedford Avenue. In the year that followed, he almost never came into contact with Ramash. “I was in yeshiva. We almost never came to 770, and the Rebbe on his part did not come to the yeshiva.”

He recalls clearly Shabbos Parshas Bo in the year 5710, when he and his friends were planning to go to 770. “We knew that the Rebbe Rayatz would be called up for maftir, since he had yahrtzait for his mother that week, and we hoped to be able to get into the minyan. However, already early in the morning, we found out about the sudden passing of the Rebbe.”

Do you remember the funeral?

“Absolutely.”

What is the image that sticks in your memory of the funeral?

“A tremendous amount of crying, it is unbelievable how much they cried. The suddenness of the histalkus broke a lot of people. At the start, they carried the aron along Eastern Parkway until Rogers Avenue, and then they placed the aron in the hearse. I went to the cemetery in somebody’s car.”

R’ Holtzman also remembers well the farbrengen in which the Rebbe accepted the nesius, on 11 Shevat 5711, but he is unwilling to go into detail and he pushes me off with, “Everything is written already.” When I press him, he only says that he was standing near the windows on the left side of the Rebbe.

“Every time that I recall the exact moment when the Rebbe began the maamer, I get the shivers. Prior to then, we had never heard the Rebbe review a maamer Chassidus, and when he began with the words, ‘The Rebbe, the shver, writes in the maamer, Basi L’Gani,’ the excitement that we felt was beyond any limit.”

When was your first yechidus with the new Rebbe?

“It was four days after accepting the nesius, in honor of my birthday, which is on 16 Shevat.” R’ Holtzman is not forthcoming with details of the yechidus. He just mentions that the Rebbe blessed him for his birthday, and that is all he will say.

VISITING THE REBBETZIN DAILY FOR SIX YEARS

The dramatic turning point in his life took place one day in the year 5714, when R’ Berel Junik, who learned with him in yeshiva and served as one of the aides in the Rebbe’s house, turned to him for assistance. He called him aside and told him, “The Rebbetzin went to Europe for three weeks, and there is a need for someone to bring the Rebbe a cooked meal every day.”

The Rebbetzin had gone for a visit to Switzerland, and the Rebbe had accompanied her to the airport to see her off. The Rebbe even went to a special porch from where it was possible to see the plane take off from the runway.

As R’ Holtzman recalls, “From that point, I would go each day to Mrs. Dubinsky who lived at 763 Eastern Parkway. She had purchased an entire set of new utensils in honor of the Rebbe, and she would cook specially for him. I would take the food from her and bring it to the Rebbe.”

You would bring the food to Gan Eden HaTachton (the hallway immediately outside the Rebbe’s room)?

“Whatever for?! I would bring the food into the Rebbe’s room, spread out a tablecloth, set out the cutlery, and prepare the food on the desk. After he would finish, the Rebbe would ring the buzzer to indicate that it was possible to come in and take the things out, and that is what I would do.”

R’ Holtzman reveals some previously unknown details, “The Rebbe would wash (for bread) every day, except for Fridays, when I would bring mezonos rolls. When the Rebbetzin returned to the United States, the Rebbe sent a special letter of thanks to Mrs. Dubinsky.

“After the Rebbetzin came back, I began to get even more involved. I would bring things for the Rebbe from his house to 770 and from 770 to his house. Later, I would also go up to the apartment of the Rebbe Rayatz on the second floor of 770.”

When R’ Berel Junik got married and moved away from Crown Heights for an extended period, R’ Yaakov Tzvi was called upon to take his place in doing housework. That is when a special connection began between R’ Yaakov Tzvi and “Beis Rebbi,” a connection that continued for decades to come. It was much like a family connection, as will be seen from the following firsthand accounts.

“Every evening, after the study sessions of the yeshiva, I would go to the house and sit and talk with the Rebbetzin about this and that. The Rebbetzin would be waiting for the Rebbe to come home, and I would help her pass the time and not be alone.”

R’ Holtzman asserts that he felt like a regular there and like a member of the household: “Not towards the Rebbe, before whom there was tremendous awe, obviously. However, when the Rebbe was not in the house, I moved around the house freely and helped in whatever way I could.

“Once, the Rebbetzin told me that when they bought the house they bought it with the furnishings. Everything was secondhand except for the bedroom set, which they purchased new. Over the years, they slowly changed the furniture according to their means.

“On another occasion, she told me that her father, the Rebbe Rayatz, told her, ‘When you look for a house, look for one that appears simple, like every other house.’ In fact, when you look at the Rebbe’s house, you see a regular house like the others on the block. There is nothing outstanding about it.”

His visits to the Rebbe’s home began when the Rebbe still lived in his previous apartment, on the top floor of 346 New York Avenue, at the corner of President Street. The home at 1304 President Street, whose exterior is well known to Chassidim around the world, was first purchased in the year 5715.

You felt like a member of the family?

“I think so.”

You would go in on Shabbos too?

“Not on Shabbos.”

Did it ever happen that you were in the house and the Rebbe arrived suddenly?

“Many times.”

What would you do in such cases?

R’ Holtzman answers simply, “I would return to yeshiva.”

His son, R’ Noach: “R’ Gershon Mendel Garelik once told me that there was one year when you asked him to come help you build the sukka in the Rebbe’s house. He did not want to come because he was afraid that the Rebbe would be in the house, but you promised him that the Rebbe would not be home. He began to build the sukka together with you, and suddenly he heard the sound of a familiar cough. Instantly, he dropped everything and started to run away from the house, as you ran after him, saying, ‘What happened? You heard a cough and have to run away?’”

R’ Yaakov Tzvi: “I don’t remember that story. There are people who remember everything, I don’t remember everything.”

R’ Holtzman continues, “Over a period of six years, I would come to the Rebbetzin every day except for Tuesdays, which is when the Rebbetzin would go to be with her mother, the old Rebbetzin, and would stay there until after ten at night.”

Why do you think the Rebbetzin cared so much about you and drew you close?

“It would seem to me that it was due to the fact that I was a bachur on my own in New York, while my mother was in France, and she was like a mother to me.”

LIKE A MOTHER

After six years, in 5720, a shidduch was suggested with Tzippora Perlman, a granddaughter of the legendary mashpia, R’ Shilem Kuratin. She was orphaned of her mother, who died in a tragic fire, and she lived in Haifa with the Chein family who provided her with assistance. The shadchan was R’ Pinye Altheus.

R’ Uri offers the following fascinating story. “When my father had to go to Eretz Yisroel for shidduchim, he had only one suit. The Rebbetzin, who was like a mother to him, told him, ‘You are going to meet a young lady and you cannot go with the same suit to every date.’ She went to the clothes closet and took out a suit and gave it to him. This was the suit the Rebbe wore before the nesius.” He also added that the suit is in the possession of the family to this day.

I heard that you also have a pair shoes of the Rebbe that you received from the Rebbetzin, along with other garments.

R’ Yaakov Tzvi does not affirm or deny, but the sons nod their heads in the affirmative.

The shidduch worked out, and they married in the year 5720. From that point on, the family connection extended to include Mrs. Holtzman, and later the children, who were born one after another.

“For our wedding, the Rebbetzin gave us a gift of a set of cutlery made of pure silver. Since then, for every simcha in the family, the Rebbetzin went out of her way to send gifts, exactly like a loving grandmother.”

As R’ Yosef Yitzchok, the firstborn son, attests, “When I was born, the Rebbetzin bought me a carriage, a crib with bedding, and many infant clothes.”

R’ Yaakov Tzvi shares an interesting story from that period, 5722 or 5723: “Once, we went to visit Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s mother, who lived at 1418 President Street. Yosef Yitzchok was then a young child still in a baby carriage. Suddenly, the door opened and the Rebbe walked in. Rebbetzin Chana went to meet him, and said, ‘M (using his name), we have guests.’ The Rebbe did not say anything, he simply turned around and left, but on his way out he stopped near the carriage that was standing in the foyer and looked very intently at Yosef Yitzchok. He was quite a mischievous child, and the Rebbe said then, ‘He has a lot of chayus.’”

R’ Yosef Yitzchok: “Instead of saying that I was mischievous, the Rebbe said, ‘Ful Mit Chayus.’”

FOR ALL OF BELGIUM

In the year 5727, after seven years of marriage, the Holtzman couple moved to Antwerp, Belgium. The move was entirely due to an “arousal from above.” As R’ Yaakov Tzvi recalls, “I went into yechidus and told the Rebbe that I want to go to Paris, and the Rebbe responded, ‘Why not Antwerp?’ The truth is that I was quite surprised. I had no connection to the city, nor with Belgium in general. I had no relatives there or even any acquaintances.

“The Rebbe went on to say, ‘You go there to deal with the men, and your wife with the ladies.’”

The couple arrived in Antwerp in Cheshvan 5727 with three small children and lots of luggage. Antwerp of those days was devoid of any strong Chabad presence. There were only four Lubavitchers in the city, and they davened in various Chassidic shuls that were spread across the city. “We did not even have a Chabad minyan. We had to find six or seven to make up the minyan.”

R’ Holtzman opened the first Lubavitch minyan in the city, which was called “Beis HaKnessess Anshei Lubavitch.” The work grew and expanded, and over the years he opened a Lubavitch camp, a store that sold Chabad books, and more.

When the Rebbe requested, in the year 5738, to print the Tanya in every place where it had not yet been published, R’ Holtzman organized the first printing of the Tanya in Antwerp. In 5744, when the Rebbe added the instruction that the effort should be made to print the Tanya not only in every country, but in every city or town where Jews reside, R’ Holtzman traveled from place to place with a truck and printed dozens of volumes of Tanya.

Perhaps that is why when he passed the Rebbe for dollars in 5751, the Rebbe gave him an additional dollar and said, “This is for all of Belgium.” In the year 5752, he opened a Lubavitch shul named “Beis Menachem Antwerp,” where there are minyanim and farbrengens every Shabbos.

In the years that followed, the Holtzmans rarely had the opportunity to visit the United States, due to their many obligations in Antwerp. They only managed to visit a few times, and of course, each time they came they went to visit the Rebbetzin.

To be continued, G-d willing