Chabad’s First Vocational School - Part Two

One of the first projects of the Rebbe in Israel was the establishment of a vocational youth village in Kfar Chabad, which included various schools where students learned a trade * In this week’s installment we learn about the construction of the schools and the Rebbe’s detailed involvement with the expansion of the school * A International Kinus HaShluchim in the JDC offices in 1960? * Part Two

One of the first projects of the Rebbe in Israel was the establishment of a vocational youth village in Kfar Chabad, which included various schools where students learned a trade. The schools were named Beit Sefer L’mlacha, and were sponsored partially by the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC(.

Throughout the years Chabad expanded the schools with financial help of the JDC, coordinated by the Rebbe’s personal emissary to Europe and North Africa, Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetzky, who was closely connected to the heads of the JDC and ensured that Chabad receives what they need.

Recently we have published the first installment, detailing the discussions which took place prior to the establishment of these schools. This installment will cover the establishment and operation of these vocational schools; the Rebbe’s involvement with every detail, and a previously unknown convention of Shluchim in the JDC offices during Tishrei 5721.

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).

Why Are The Jews So Excited?

As the building started taking shape, the Hanhala of the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Israel sent a heartfelt letter detailing the great importance of this venture, and why the religious Jews are so excited for this new school.

The letter, dated 25th of Teves 5714, was signed by R’ Avraham Mayorer (Drizin) and R’ Ephraim Wolf and was addressed to Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu (Leo) Jung (Free Translation):

We hereby notify Your Honor that the trade school is nearing completion; your important and very valuable initiative to teach the children of the ultra-Orthodox Torah and a trade that supports the owners, is becoming a reality.

The greatness and benefit of this venture is twofold: a) that your proposal was accepted by the Heart of Israel, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. B) The great excitement of many ultra-Orthodox masses who have longed for the completion of this sublime venture.

The reason and cause of why the ultra-Orthodox are so interested in this venture is because an institution like this is the first of its kind in the ultra-Orthodox world, and until now those who had a son who for some reason didn’t study in Yeshiva, would still not send him to learn a trade out of concern that the environment of the institution will have a [negative] effect on the education of their sons, for the education there was not according to their standard, and this caused that many young people grew without Torah and without a trade, and are missing the physical and spiritual. But now that this new institution has been revealed, in such an eminent place, this opened a wide door even to these parents also teach their children Torah and trade without hindrance and without fear.

There isn’t enough space to explain the importance and the publicity His Honor has received. The multitude of applications that have been received by this institution show the importance of this venture, and I wish that we have the possibility to accept at least 10 percent of the requests.

Our sages say, that one who begins a Mitzvah we tell him to complete it, and therefore we request of Your Honor to use your considerable influence and world famous name recognition to show us the way and open up the channel to give us the opportunity to fulfill your idea.

Rabbi Jung forwarded a copy of this letter to the JDC, and plans were made to grant Chabad more financial means to complete this venture.

“The Plan Sounds Very Good”

A few years later, Rabbi Gorodetzky requested additional funds from the JDC to equip the schools, from the $100,000 fund that the JDC set up for such schools. In a long letter penned by Mrs. Henrietta K. Buchman (JDC-New York) to Mr. Charles Jordan (JDC-Europe), dated January 20, 1958 [28 Teves 5718] she discusses the request, stating that the JDC will not give the Chabad School preferential treatment.

A month later, on February 19, 1958 [19 Shvat 5718], Mr. Charles Jordan (JDC-Europe) responded to Mrs. Henrietta K. Buchman (JDC-New York) describing his view on the Chabad schools:

Re: Lubavitcher Printing Shop – Israel

During my sojourn to Israel I had occasion to review the entire matter of a request for an allocation out of the special appropriation of $100,000 for the above project. It so happened that Rabbi Gorodetzki was also in Israel at the time.

I discussed the matter with the ORT which will make a study of the project and let us have a report, shortly. The project seems to require an outlay of about $50,000 some of which would have to be spent in Israel, some abroad.

I would now like to propose that we allocate 50% of total cost as it will be certified by ORT, our share not to exceed $25,000, and that Mr. Horwitz be authorized to make payments in local currencies against submission of invoices, and that dollar payments be made within the total amount also against invoices, as necessary.

The buildings are completed. The money now needed is for equipment. Of course you know that the building expenses were borne entirely by Lubavitcher. The plan sounds very good to us, and the Lubavitcher have demonstrated a high degree of responsibility in carrying on vocational training on a standard very acceptable to ORT and us.

Please let me hear from you.

Fine Results = Approval For Expansion

A few months later, On July 6, 1958 [18 Tamuz 5718], the director of the JDC office in Israel, Dr. Aharon Greenbaum writes to Mrs. Henrietta K. Buchman (JDC-New York), explaining why the JDC should approve funding for expanding the school:

The Yeshiva is expanding its program of Vocational training.

1. The Printing School is scheduled to be opened in September 1958. According to a communication from Paris to Mr. Horowitz, we are paying IL 20,000. – here to the Yeshiva for equipment for the printing school. The sum of $13,670 will be paid in New York.

2. The Yeshiva approached us with plans to open a class in metal works. The initial costs according to certified estimates here would be about IL 6,000. Our share of this would be 60% = IL 3,600.

I found on my visit that the Yeshiva has appropriate building space for this purpose.

In view of the fine results of the Lubavitch vocational training program, I am recommending the approval of this additional vocational plan.

Please let me have your opinion on this proposal. I am not sure whether this requires action by the Cultural Committee, since this is an expansion of an existing vocational program.

Kinus HaShluchim at JDC Office

On October 18, 1960 [27 Tishrei 5721], the following report was written, detailing a meeting of Chabad Shluchim from around the world with representatives of the JDC:

In response to Rabbi Gorodetzki’s request, Mr. Warburg met with a group of the Lubavitcher this morning, consisting of their representatives from Australia, Canada, Europe, Israel, Morocco, South America, as well as of the local Chabad. Rabbi Gorodetzki, their spokesman, explained that at their recent conference, it was agreed that a delegation call on Mr. Warburg to express thanks to the JDC for its continued financial help and sympathetic cooperation over the years.

Rabbi Gorodetzki spoke of the urgent need for expanding Jewish education programs, particularly religious schools, in North Africa, in light of the political situation there, for which the JDC will have to provide additional funds.

Rabbi Gorodetzki alluded to the yeshivoth vocational training programs in Israel and expressed concern about rumors that the JDC plans to turn over to the ORT this aspect of the yeshivah work. He urged that it remain under JDC, as at present, and hoped that the JDC will continue to extend the same degree of sympathetic understanding to the yeshivoth as has prevailed in the past.

In thanking the delegation for their visit, Mr. Warburg emphasized the continued interest of the JDC in Jewish education, including the needs of the yeshivoth. He explained that JDC funds are derived from the United Jewish Appeal, and JDC’s ability to meet the needs in any field is dependent upon the sums raised by UJA. He hoped the group would understand that when situations arise where the JDC must deny requests, it is not indicative of lack of interest, but due to lack of funds. He would be leaving for the Country Directors’ Conference, to be held in Geneva at the end of this month, and will have an opportunity to convey their views to the JDC overseas headquarters, which has responsibility for administering the budget. His own primary concern is to help the UJA raise the necessary funds.

Expanding the Printing School

On October 26, 1960 [5 Cheshvan 5721], the Rebbe’s secretariat (Mazkirus) issued a long three-page Memorandum addressed to the “Jewish Restitution Successor Organization” detailing the plan for the new Printing School in Kfar Chabad, and requesting 50% of the cost of machinery:

Re: Project of Offset Printing School and Plant, in Kfar Chabad, Israel

The Project calls for the establishment of an Offset Printing School in Kfar Chabad to train students in the art of offset printing, as well as to serve as a plant specializing in the republication of Rabbinic and Chassidic literature to meet urgent demands in Israel and for export.

The wholesale extermination of Jewish books and the destruction of Jewish printing houses in Central and Eastern Europe in the holocaust of the last war is one of the great tragedies which is still acutely felt by Jewish communities all over the world. Many sacred books in the field of Rabbinics and Chassiduth, which are standard requirements in the Jewish home and educational institutions, are out of press. The need for them is felt all the more by survivors and refugees from the said areas who are anxious to keep alive the continuity of the traditions and values of our people which had suffered such a telling blow.

Thus, a project whereby the republication of those sacred and scholarly books would be made possible, would In itself be in the nature of an urgent public service.

We propose to make this a two-in-one project by combining it with the establishment of an Offset Printing School, to train young men in a useful trade which would provide them with an economic basis and also be an asset for the State at large.

We consider ourselves particularly qualified for the implementation of this Project, for the following reasons:

(1) We already have in operation in Kfar Chabad a Printing School (without offset equipment), which has highly justified itself. The Project of the Offset Printing School and plant could therefore be easily integrated with the existing Printing School, and the two departments would complement each other and spur each other’s progress.

(2) We have the facilities in terms of locale and instructor and administrative personnel, so that we would need only the funds for the machinery and equipment.

(3) Offset printing, as publishing in general, requires in addition to the mechanical skill a background of knowledge of the literature printed. We have the student body that would be highly qualified for the task.

(4) We have every reason to believe that if you would make available 50% of the cost of the equipment, we would be able to raise the balance from our own ranks.

(5) Aside from the above practical consideration, there are also moral ones. The center of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement before the last war was first in Russia and subsequently in Poland, with a network of Yeshivoth, synagogues and other institutions in these and adjoining countries, most hard hit by the war. The Chabad Immigrants in Israel, especially those settled in the Chabad Village, are the spiritual legatees of the victims who perished so tragically during the last war.

The cost of the equipment to implement the Project is conservatively estimated at about $50,000.00. Inasmuch as we have a contingent source for 50% of this amount, we ask you to subscribe to the amount of $25,000 in order to enable us to proceed with the implementation of this Project without delay.

We sincerely hope that you will consider the project on its merits, and we thank you in anticipation of your favorable action.

Respectfully submitted

Agree To Pay 50% of Costs

A few months later, on January 11, 1961 [23 Teves 5721], the “Jewish Restitution Successor Organization” responded to the Rebbe, approving 50% of the cost of the machinery for the offset printing press which will be part of the vocational schools:

Dear Rabbi Schneerson;

It gives me great pleasure to advise you that the Executive Committee of the JRSO approved a one-time grant of IL 30,000 toward the cost of equipment for an offset printing school in Kfar Chabad in Israel. This allocation is made on condition that your organization will provide the balance of the funds necessary to acquire the offset printing equipment for the proposed school, but not less than IL 30,000.

The JRSO has requested Mr. Charles Passman to continue to act on its behalf in connection with the implementation of this allocation. Funds will be released through Mr. Passman as they become available to the JRSO and are required for the purchase of equipment. The JRSO will require periodic reports on the progress of the project. These reports should be made available to Mr. Passman for transmittal to the JRSO in New York.

The Executive Committee would also appreciate it if an appropriate inscription is placed on or in the building housing the offset printing school, recording the fact that the installations were made possible in part by a grant from the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization.

We trust that this allocation will make it possible for you to carry through the project which will undoubtedly be of aid and service to victims of Nazi persecution.

I would be grateful if your organization will send to us a letter of acceptance of the terms of the allocation as set forth above.

Indeed, the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization paid for the machinery for the offset printing press, and in the following months Rabbi Gorodetzky kept constant communication with the JRSO to ensure payment of the machinery, etc.