Exclusive: The Rebbe’s Support Letter for Amshinov

A unique letter from the Rebbe to the American Jewish Distribution Committee asking for support for the Amshinov Yeshiva in Jerusalem and attesting to the character of the Amshinov Rebbe, Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehuda Meir Kalisch.

Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehuda Meir Kalisch, the previous Amshinover RebbeThe American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) was founded in 1914 in New York with the purpose of helping Jews living in Palestine. In the following years the organization grew to become the most prominent Jewish relief organization in the world, supporting Jewish communities across the globe with financial and educational help.

Chabad Chassidim and Mosdos in Russia, and later in Europe, Israel and North Africa, were recipients of tens of millions of dollars in aid from the JDC. The JDC Archives is an extraordinary and unique treasure in the archival world, containing miles of text documents, among them thousands of documents pertaining to the work of Chabad in the 20^th Century.

In recent months these archives have been digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE.

We have combed through the archives to bring our readers a taste of Chabad history. This week we present a rare letter from the Rebbe to Dr. Moses A. Leavitt from the JDC asking for support for the Amshinov Yeshiva in Jerusalem, attesting to the character of the Amshinov Rebbe.

Who was the Amshinover Rebbe?

Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehuda Meir Kalisch, the previous Amshinover Rebbe, was miraculously saved from the Holocaust and spent the years of World War II in Shanghai, China, alongside the Chabad Yeshiva Bochurim. In 1954 he settled in Jerusalem and started building the Amshinov Chassidus in Israel, and in the late 1950’s he established the “Shem Olam” Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

The Rebbe’s letter:

By the Grace of G-d

15th of Teveth, 5719

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dr. Moses A. Leavitt

Joint Distribution Committee

3 East 54th Street

New York 22, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am writing to you in behalf of the application made by Yeshivas Amshinov “Shem Olam”, of Bayit V’Gan, Jerusalem, for the immediate inclusion among the Yeshivoth which receive annual subventions from the JDC.

For many years I have known the leaders of this worthy segment of the orthodox Jewish community, and am convinced that the Yeshiva in question merits the fullest support of the JDC.

If there are certain technicalities to be overcome, I am confident that with your good will and influence a way will be found to overcome them. I am informed that a delegation of the leaders of the Yeshiva in question are ready and willing to meet with you or with anyone else of the JDC, to present any further data that may be required. I understand the application is due for consideration within the next few days, and I sincerely hope that you will give it your prompt and benevolent attention.

Assuring you of my sincere appreciation, and with all good wishes and

With blessing

M. Schneerson

May I take this opportunity to put in a good word in connection with our applications before the Claims Conference, which I believe are about to come up for action. You have, in the past, given us much needed support, and your direct intervention has been decisive on more than one occasion. I hope and trust that you will once again take a personal interest in the projects submitted by our organizations, with a view to ensuring their receiving the most favorable consideration and maximum financial aid possible.

I thank you very much again.

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A few days letter Dr. Leavitt responded to the Rebbe:

December 30, 1958

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson

770 Eastern Parkway

Brooklyn 13, N.Y.

Dear Rabbi Schneerson

I have for acknowledgment your letter of the 15th of Teveth, 5719, with reference to the application made by the Yeshivah Amshinov Shem Olam of Jerusalem. So far as I know, the question of whether or not this yeshivah is eligible for help from the JDC is decided in Israel and it is on the recommendation of the office in Israel that action is taken by the Cultural Committee here. I shall find out more about the status and let you know.

I hope you will be satisfied with the decisions of the Claims Conference with respect to your application and you must of course bear in mind the large number of requests of this nature that are submitted for help.

With best wishes,

Sincerely yours.

Moses A. Leavitt