CHABAD HOUSE IN THE HOUSE OF MOSHIACH

A new Chabad House. Where? In Chabad World Headquarters, 770. The numerous visitors have justified the founding of an organization just for them, which arranges tours and visits for the mekuravim who go to 770.

The bachurim who learn in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim 770 are already used to it. Many Jews, from all walks of life, walk in to visit 770, cast a longing glance toward the Rebbe’s bima or fervently kiss the paroches on the Aron Kodesh.

This phenomenon becomes more prevalent during the summer when, all over the zal, you can see serious Litvishe men, excitable Jews from France, Poilishe Chassidim, and mekuravim who recently spent time in a Chabad House somewhere in the world. You can watch them walk in, looking curious, wanting explanations about the place, and interested in the Besuras Ha’Geula.

The Rebbe refers to this in his kuntres “Beis Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel (S’if 8):

“The avoda of hafatza of Torah and Judaism and the wellsprings out of Beis Rabbeinu (770) continues to grow even after (the last ten years of) his [the Rebbe Rayatz’s] life in this world, more than forty years (5710-5750), in a way of ‘Hashem gave you a heart to know and eyes to see and ears to hear.’

“Beis Rabbeinu (770) is that aspect of talpiyos, ‘the mound (tal) that all mouths (piyos) turn to,’ for more than fifty years (5700-5750), ‘ad olam.’ This is emphasized even more when we see an increasing number of Jews coming to Beis Rabbeinu, ‘b’rov am hadras melech.’”

A NEW, WELCOME INITIATIVE

The dynamic Yosef Yitzchok Tanis, who does a lot of outreach, explained the impetus for this project:

“Over the years, the bachurim learning in 770 noticed that many mekuravim walk in throughout the day, sometimes more than the number of people at Chabad Houses. The bachurim began offering guests a guided tour which usually ends by putting on t’fillin and writing to the Rebbe.

“Lately, since this phenomenon has doubled and tripled, there became an urgent need to found a ‘mini’ Chabad House that would professionally arrange the tours and visits to 770. It started with setting up a place on the farbrengen bima where you can acquire kippos, brochures, Moshiach products, Neshek kits and more.

“The next stage was to produce a nice designed brochure, printed in several languages, with information about 770, starting with the history of the building, its structure, the replicas around the world, and mainly its role in bringing the Geula.

“Lately, the idea of having a 770 Chabad House gained impetus and began to take form. A website was set up on which anyone can register for a guided tour of 770. You can also register for a Shabbos or even weekdays, if necessary. Now, any shliach or anyone who meets a mekurav going to New York can refer him to a place that will take care of him during his visit to the Rebbe in the building that speaks to the heart of every Jew, Beis Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel.

“During the last Kinus HaShluchim, a nice brochure was given out in 770 announcing the new project and inviting everyone to send his mekuravim to 770, knowing that they will enjoy a guided tour, will have chavrusos with whom to learn a special booklet appropriate for them, will participate in Chassidishe farbrengens, and the gashmius end of things will also be taken care of.

“The goal is for this to be welcome news for shluchim and others, and for the number of visitors to the Rebbe’s house to increase so they will be ready to greet Moshiach.”

A TASTE OF THE MIRACLES

The following is a collection of stories from this past year of people who visited 770, toured it with one of the bachurim, wrote to the Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh, and received clear answers to their problems and queries. The stories were told by Yosef Yitzchok Nachum who escorted the mekuravim on their visit to Beis Chayeinu. Here’s one:

Binyamin was afraid to share his doubts with anyone, nervous lest the results of the conversation not meet his expectations. He was simply afraid that he would have to deal with the revelation that the path he had chosen in life was wrong. But thoughts kept plaguing him and he finally decided to go on vacation to America.

Binyamin flew to the land of unlimited opportunity and somehow arrived at the most special place in the world. Yes, one day he found himself at 770. The sight of dozens of bearded Chassidim filling the area aroused his curiosity. He descended the steps that lead to the basement and saw that it serves as a spacious shul. He went inside.

A hand was held out to him and someone said, “Hello, how are you?” He turned to see a young bachur who made a nice impression on him. The bachur’s demeanor and warm greeting won him over immediately and he accompanied him on a tour of the building.

He was fascinated by what the bachur had to say. The bachur described how the typical red brick Brooklyn building began conquering the world for the Geula. The building which up until a few minutes ago had looked like just another shul, took on a completely different significance. The many topics in Judaism and Chassidus that came up, which he was hearing about for the first time, opened his eyes and made him feel that his life could look very different.

Then, towards the end of the tour, the bachur suggested that he write a letter to the Rebbe and present his questions and requests. Binyamin was taken aback. He couldn’t put his questions into writing! And what if the answers won’t satisfy me? No, he hesitated; I can’t write my questions to the Rebbe.

Then at least ask for a bracha for your family and loved ones, said the bachur. Binyamin was amenable to that and he sat down to write.

After finishing his letter he put it into a volume of Igros Kodesh. The bachur explained the significance of proclaiming Yechi, which they said together, and then they opened the book.

“I don’t believe it!” Binyamin exclaimed. He explained to the bachur, “The Rebbe is talking here about contradictions between science and Torah. In my job I am involved with science and since my work raises endless questions regarding the truth of Torah, I was afraid to delve into things. The Rebbe knows what’s on my mind and responded to my questions!”

THERE IS A REBBE

Uri, a young Israeli fellow, traveled the world a lot and like many others, had landed in New York. He got himself an apartment and began working at various odd jobs. In the afternoon-evening he visited tourist spots and got to know the city.

One day, he showed up at 770. Outside, the building looked like other buildings in the neighborhood, but the moment he walked in, he felt he was in another world. The hundreds of people surrounding him and the loud voices of Torah learning made a deep impression on him. He walked about aimlessly among the many talmidim filling the room and tried to arrange his thoughts. 

Suddenly, a nice fellow, one of the talmidim, came over to him. “How are you?” he asked with a big smile, and took Uri on a tour of the building. During the tour, Uri was excited to hear that Providence had guided him to the place where the Ikar Sh’china dwells in galus. The bachur asked him to write to the Rebbe. “Everyone has questions, uncertainties or doubts. Write a letter to the Nasi Ha’dor, the Rebbe who cares for you and seeks your welfare just as a father seeks the welfare of his only son.”

Uri agreed and sat down to write. The bachur then said, “Before you write, it’s a good idea to make a ‘vessel’ for the bracha and to make a good hachlata in some area of Torah and mitzvos. Maybe commit to putting on t’fillin on one day of the week or to putting up a mezuza.” 

Uri was happy to acquiesce and said he would start putting on t’fillin, but he did not have money for a mezuza. The bachur unhesitatingly took out a nice amount of money from his pocket and said to Uri, “Buy a mezuza with this money.”

Uri wrote a letter to the Rebbe which included his good hachlata. Then he put his letter into a volume of Igros Kodesh, said Yechi, and when he opened the volume he was thrilled to see the answer. The Rebbe wrote precisely regarding what he had asked about; it was a bracha for abundant parnasa. The bachur read the second letter on the page along with Uri which was about the laws of putting up a mezuza. Uri was surprised yet again when he had just made the decision to do exactly that.

Uri was moved. He saw before his eyes that there is a leader, that the Rebbe did not abandon his flock. The personal letter he had opened to from the Rebbe left no room for doubts. The Rebbe knew his thoughts.

Uri left 770 with a photocopy of the pages and with the feeling that even in our time, there is someone who looks out for every Jew and he will soon come and redeem the Jewish people from galus.

MY SALVATION IS NEAR

“That is the balcony from where the Rebbe encouraged the singing of Yechi. The song which hasn’t stopped since began after the Rebbe explained that Moshiach was already given the mission to redeem the Jewish people and every Jew must accept his rule and be devoted to fulfilling his orders. His primary order for now is to prepare ourselves and the world to greet Moshiach …”

They were an Israeli father and son who were touring 770 together with Yosef Nachum. The bachur continued with his explanations and they moved toward the end of the room, intending to go upstairs to the Rebbe’s room. When they were near the stairs, the son asked, “Is there another way to get there?”

“Why do you ask,” wondered the bachur. “Can’t you go up the stairs?”

“It’s a sad story,” said the father. The son shared the following:

“It happened when I was in the army. During training, in the middle of some physical exertion I suddenly felt enormous pain. I visited many doctors and none of them helped me. I finished my army service with dozens of paid leave deferments and then came here, to America. There is a doctor here who discovered what the problem is. I have a slipped disk and a crack in one of my vertebrae.”

The bachur listened empathetically and suggested that he write to the Rebbe. Father and son happily sat down to do so. The son said, “The doctors gave surgery a fairly high chance of success and we came here to get the remaining percentages … You should know that my father is not religious and I am shocked that he brought me here!”

The bachur replied, “From the Rebbe you will get 100% chances, with Hashem’s help.”

They wrote the letter and added at the end that as the “vessel” for the bracha the son would put on t’fillin at least on one weekday a week. They put the letter into a volume of Igros Kodesh and were thrilled to see brachos for health on the page they opened to.

The bachur was so moved that he took out a dollar that was received from the Rebbe and gave it to the son to have with him during the operation. Then they exchanged phone numbers and parted.

A few months passed and one day, the bachur’s cell phone rang. “Hello Yosef, I’m the one who wrote to the Rebbe about the operation … With the Rebbe’s bracha, the operation was more successful than anticipated and it took much less time than they expected. I spent some time in rehab and tomorrow I’m going to 770 to thank the Rebbe for the miracles.”

The next day, he showed up in 770 and was happy to meet the bachur who had helped him. The young man told Yosef how much the Rebbe’s bracha had encouraged him during his stay in the hospital and he gave him back the dollar. Then he said he wanted to write to the Rebbe again to thank him.

As they spoke, he showed Yosef pictures of his terrible condition before the operation. He said, “My father told me that right after the operation, when I woke up, I was still in a confused state, but the first thing I asked for was to put on t’fillin. Here is a picture of me with t’fillin, but still I have to tell you that I don’t remember it.”

They continued talking and before parting, he wrote to the Rebbe again and informed him that he was planning on going to Eretz Yisroel and he asked for a bracha. He also committed, as the bachur suggested, to starting every day with Modeh Ani. In the letter that he opened to, the Rebbe wrote about the great holiness of Eretz Yisroel and about proper conduct while being there.

Later on, the young man sent a photocopy of the first letter to the bachur and to the bachur’s amazement he discovered that in the letter on the second page, which was in Yiddish, the Rebbe mentioned about saying Modeh Ani every day!

SPEEDY BLESSING

His son, whom he loved, was in a predicament and he could not help him. All the doctors and therapists in Beer Sheva, where he lived, already knew his son and not one of them had found a solution to his problem. Since his birth it was obvious that he would have to deal with a life that wasn’t easy. He was born with a certain syndrome. Although his condition wasn’t severe, endless patience was needed, as well as a strong will, so that he could develop properly and live a functional life. In his city there were some doctors who treat problems such as these and his son was treated properly, but one aspect remained as it was. Nobody had been able to help his son speak clearly and fluently.

He had heard that help was available and he headed for Beis Rabbeinu Sh’B’Bavel. The bachur he met in 770 gave him a tour and explained where the Rebbe davened, where the Rebbe farbrenged, where the Rebbe’s room is, and so on. Then they sat down together in a quiet corner while the bachur explained how to write to the Rebbe.

“When you write to the Rebbe, remember that you are writing as a son to a father. Pour out your feelings and the Rebbe, as a compassionate father, Rosh B’nei Yisroel, will bless you with a happy life from Hashem. Don’t forget to write to the Rebbe that after our conversation you know that his role as Nasi Ha’dor is to take us out of galus and to rule as Melech HaMoshiach, and therefore you accept his malchus and are ready to do as he says.”

After writing the letter, they put it into a volume of Igros Kodesh and the answer they opened to was so simple and clear that they were stunned. The Rebbe wrote about a boy who could not speak, that he ought to pay attention while he spoke; that if there was a word he could not say, he should substitute a different word and not persist in trying to say that word that he had a hard time saying.

THE REBBE’S ADVICE 

In the good years, he made a lot of money and was a chazan with a career. The special voice with which he was gifted transmitted the feelings of his heart so sweetly that he led many a Jew to shed tears and to be inspired to t’shuva.

He had no family, no wife, and no children, and his elderly parents, who had long since despaired of seeing their only son starting a family of his own, had also passed away. He was left without any relatives, but his success in other areas made him forget his lack of family. He immersed himself entirely into the word of chazanus.

But then the wheel turned and his parnasa began dwindling. Those who had recently worked with him turned their backs on him. 

In his hardest moments, a ray of light came his way. It was while he was in America auditioning for a chazanus position, and he went into 770.

One of the bachurim learning there saw him and suggested he write to the Rebbe. He was happy to do so and said he hoped the Rebbe would help him.

After putting his letter into a volume of Igros Kodesh at random, the bachur read the letter on that page. The letter said he had to be involved in chinuch and that is where his success would be. The bachur suggested that perhaps he could teach boys to be baalei t’filla.

As they were talking, the bachur noticed that the man he was talking to was no longer listening to him and was looking intently at the second letter on the page. He stopped him for a moment and confirmed that he understood the first letter. Then he went on to finish reading the second letter which said: Regarding your birthday which falls out on the upcoming Shabbos … and the letter contained birthday customs.

The bachur asked the man when his birthday was and the man said excitedly, the following Shabbos (23 Sivan, which made it a double wonder since that was also the birthday of the bachur!). The man was quiet for a bit and then he said, “Thank you! Now I understand that the Rebbe knows my situation and is giving me the tools and the possibilities to deal with things properly, thus carrying out my shlichus for which reason I was born.”

ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS

Uzi, someone who had visited many Chabad Houses around the world, always knew he could write to the Rebbe and receive his blessing. He also always knew that the day would come when he would do it himself. This happened when he visited 770 for the first time. He immediately felt at home, a feeling he felt nowhere else, and so he decided that here, finally, he would write to the Rebbe.

He sat down to write a long letter without sharing his thoughts and what he was writing with anyone. He put the letter into a volume of Igros Kodesh. When he opened it, he saw three letters which dealt with three different problems. He was stunned when he saw that each letter had an answer to one of the questions that he asked. He walked around 770 half the day, in turmoil, telling everyone he saw what happened.

AN INVITATION TO MEKURAVIM

We will end with the content of the new brochure that invites everyone who has a mekurav who wants to visit 770 to contact the address of the new Chabad House of 770:

You meet people going to New York on business, to visit family, or just to vacation and you convince them to visit 770. But you find yourself at a loss about whom they should contact. Who will find them a place to sleep and eat? Who will arrange chavrusos for them to learn with and who will help them find their place in the Rebbe’s home?

Shluchim, Chabad activists, Mivtzaistim: Now there’s an answer!

Beis Chabad 770 is the answer, b’gashmius and b’ruchnius, for your mekuravim:

Hosting for Shabbos for individuals or groups, Shabbos meals with families of Anash, places to stay on weekdays.

Chavrusos to learn at all hours of the day, a tour of 770, farbrengens.

For groups – a video that shows special moments with the Rebbe.

Contact: chabadof770@gmail.com

www.chabadof770.com