ADDING SECULAR STUDIES IN MOROCCO

The lack of secular studies in the Chabad schools in Morocco was a thorny issue between the JDC and Chabad since the beginning * On Chabad: “They work honestly, cleanly, devotedly and sincerely” * Rabbi Gorodetsky: “It would be impossible at this stage to persuade the Rebbe to change his views” on secular studies * For Chabad this is “a matter of fundamental principle dictated by the Rebbe, and their overseas representatives, whether it be Rabbi Gorodetzki or anyone else, are bound by it * Part Eight

The lack of secular studies in the Chabad schools in Morocco was a thorny issue between the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetsky, the Rebbe’s Shliach to Europe and North Africa.

In this installment we find the JDC trying to find someone to “convince” the Rebbe; Rabbi Gorodetsky’s semi approval of secular studies in the girls’ schools, and the argument about the inspections.

These fascinating documents are part of the JDC Archives (which were digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

JDC: Chabad works “honestly, cleanly, devotedly and sincerely”

On February 8, 1955 (Shvat 16, 5715), Mr. Stanley Abramovitch (JDC Paris) writes to Mrs. Henrietta K. Buchman (JDC New York) about the situation in Morocco with the various organizations, detailing the faults with the “Ozar HaTorah” organization, and then writing about the Chabad schools:

The Lubavitcher present a different problem. They work honestly, cleanly, devotedly and sincerely. Our only problem with them is how to control effectively the wise and elusive methods of Rabbi Gorodetzky and his people…

The question of secular education in satellite schools is not an easy one. You will see, however, that none of us here are allowing the matter to sleep. Just as the question of Jewish education in kindergartens must be given time, so this question too demands time to allow the various people concerned to work out improvements and institute changes…

JDC: Can Someone Convince the Rebbe?

Over a year later, on March 21, 1956 (Nissan 9, 5716), Mr. Abramovitch wrote a letter to Mrs. Buchman discussing the issue of secular studies once again:

We have a problem with Lubavitcher Boys’ Schools in Morocco. You probably know from past reports that the Lubavitcher are opposed to giving any secular education in their schools to boys. We have had frequent discussions with them about the need to teach some French so that the boys can sign their names, can read and know elementary arithmetic. It seems that the Rabbi is opposed to such education.

I wondered whether it wouldn’t be possible to exert some influence, through the lay leaders of the Lubavitcher. The photostatic copies of resolutions of various Lubavitcher groups that we occasionally receive, made Mr. Katzki and myself think that these people would realize the importance of teaching how to read and write to the boys in the Lubavitcher schools. We cannot interfere in their educational program. We have tried to persuade them, so far without much success. Do you think that it is possible to do something through the lay members of the Lubavitcher Committee? It would be of enormous value to the hundreds of boys in these schools if they were taught how to read and write.

“Impossible” To Persuade The Rebbe

A few weeks later, on April 11, 1956 (Nissan 30, 5716), Mrs. Buchman responded to Mr. Abramovitch describing a meeting with Rabbi Gorodetski, and his opinion regarding secular studies in the Chabad schools in Morocco:

I had a long talk with Rabbi Gorodetzki the other day in regard to your letter #91 of March 21st. As you know, Rabbi Gorodetzki is himself not averse to the inclusion of some secular education for the boys’ schools in Morocco. It is Rabbi Schneerson who is unalterably opposed, and Rabbi Gorodetzki assures me that it would be impossible at this stage to persuade him to change his views. My only hope is that with the addition of one of the Lubavitcher leaders to membership on our Cultural Committee, perhaps some progress can be made in the future.

I must point out to you, however, that according to Rabbi Gorodetzki, secular subjects – arithmetic, some geography and history – are taught in the boys’ schools, but of course in Hebrew and Yiddish. Rabbi Gorodetzki tells me, too, that in addition to reading and writing Yiddish and Hebrew, most of the boys know sufficient French to sign their names. Moreover, if a secular language were to be introduced, it should be Arabic rather than French, since these boys will hopefully be moving on to Israel, in which event French would not be of practical use to them.

Rabbi Gorodetzki explained that in the girls’ schools, French is taught. He confided that this was a responsibility which he took upon himself without consulting the Rebbe in advance, and incurred considerable displeasure from the Rebbe. His decision to introduce French in the girls’ schools was based on practical considerations, among them the fact that it was not necessary to devote as much time to Torah subjects for girls, and the knowledge that French gave them useful equipment for employment possibilities, etc.

JDC: We Are
Not Getting Involved

Almost a year has passed, and on January 29, 1957 (Shvat 27, 5717) Mr. Abramovitch wrote a letter to Mrs. Buchman discussing the refusal of Rabbi Gorodetsky to allow the JDC Inspection of the Chabad schools in Morocco during school hours. In this letter he mentions in passing the secular studies issue, and the JDC attitude towards it:

The crux of the discussion with Rabbi Gorodetzki will be inspection of the classes as well as of the physical installations. We have no wish to get involved in the subject matter they choose for teaching, although we do have our opinion on their decision not to allow a Jewish boy to learn how to sign his name in French. We have never questioned the content of their teaching. Nevertheless, we cannot agree to Rabbi Goredetzki’s decision that JDC representatives cannot visit Lubavitcher institutions and their classes to obtain information that we consider essential for our work.

The Shluchim Are Bound By The Rebbe’s Directives

A few weeks later, on February 13, 1957 (Adar Rishon 12, 5717) Mr. Abramovitch wrote another letter to Mrs. Buchman revisiting the issue of the inspections and discussing also the issue of secular studies, based on a conversation he had with Rabbi Gorodetsky on these matters:

Rabbi Gorodetzki tells me that he has at no time objected to visits by JDC representatives to the Lubavitcher institutions, whether in Casablanca or elsewhere in Morocco. He fully recognizes the right, and indeed the responsibility of the JDC to check on questions relating to budgetary income and expenditures, as well as to inspect the physical accommodations and equipment of the schools, their sanitation, adequacy of kitchen and dining facilities, classroom arrangements, number of students, etc. Moreover, he says that he has no objection to classroom visits during periods when the students are in attendance, provided they are not intended to interfere with the content or character of instruction, which he regards as entirely the responsibility of the Lubavitcher leadership. Any attempt on the part of the JDC representative to involve himself in the content or method of instruction is, he feels, interference with the subject matter…

The Lubavitcher policy of not including foreign languages, such as French or Arabic, is a matter of fundamental principle dictated by the Rebbe, and their overseas representatives, whether it be Rabbi Gorodetzki or anyone else, are bound by it. Permission for the exception to include French in the Beth Rivka of the Lubavitcher was achieved after prolonged struggle, as you must know.

There is, of course, no question about their Inclusion of secular education, both in the curriculum of the boys’ schools as well as in the girls’. I understand that geography, arithmetic, and history are taught in all the schools. According to our records here, the Lubavitcher were among the first to have asked for support for trade education in their yeshivoth, not only in France, but also in Israel. I assume they are doing the same in Morocco, though we’ve received virtually no reports since 1955 from our own representatives in regard to the work of the Lubavitcher institutions in North Africa.

In the next installment we will present the “Non-Partisan Committee for the Spiritual Survival of Eastern European Jewry,” an organization founded in 1948 by the Chabad leaders in the USA under the guidance of the Frierdiker Rebbe, with a chapter in Canada, which was in contact with the JDC and helped fundraise for the Chabad activities of Rabbi Gorodetsky.