Rabbi Sholom Ber Avtzon retells the story of “the Rebbe’s Sefer Torah”
In this series, we brought the story of how the special Sefer Torah of the Slavita brothers was written in great Kedusha and Mesirus Nefesh, and how it was smuggled out of Soviet Russia by Reb Shmuel Abba Schapiro, a direct descendant of one of the brothers:
Reb Shmuel Abba, who proudly carried the name of his illustrious ancestor, Reb Shmuel Abba of Slavita, ensured that the Sefer Torah remained in his possession, carefully safeguarding it just as his father had and he would not part with it easily. Indeed, he had laid out large sums of money when he left Russia in order to maintain possession of the Sefer Torah, so the desire or need for money was clearly not a factor that would cause him to part with the Sefer Torah.
So what indeed caused him to do so?
Reb Shmuel Abba was very close to the Frierdiker Rebbe. His wife, in fact, was a descendant of the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek and a first cousin of the Frierdiker Rebbe, and the Schapiro family had maintained close ties with Beis HaRav.
Their close connection is demonstrated by the following incident: When the Frierdiker Rebbe sent his son-in-law, the Rashag, to visit Eretz Yisroel in 5709 (1949), they were informed of his upcoming visit. Various meetings and traveling schedules, however, prevented the Rashag from visiting them. When he returned to America, he sent them a letter of apology for not making the extra effort to visit those who were so close to Beis HaRav as both good friends and relatives.
Reb Shmuel Abba was a close friend with the chossid Reb Pinchos Todros Althaus, known to all as Reb Pinye. When Reb Shmuel Abba’s wife became ill, Reb Pinye was there to give them the encouragement and moral support they needed. His family was extremely close to Beis HaRav, and in Russia, his father, Reb Eliyahu Chaim, had served as the official shadchan for the marriage of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.
After Mrs. Schapiro passed away (in late 5712 [1952] or early 5713 [1953]), Reb Shmuel Abba took his good friend Reb Pinye into his confidence, sharing many private matters with him. During their many discussions, they also discussed the future of the Sefer Torah as well as Reb Shmuel Abba’s financial situation. Reb Shmuel Abba mentioned that seven years earlier, he had asked Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schnersohn if he had any interest in acquiring the Sefer Torah. The Rebbe replied that although he was certainly interested in acquiring the Sefer Torah, his financial straits made it impossible.
Reb Pinye then advised him to give the Sefer Torah as a gift to the Frierdiker Rebbe’s successor, his son-in-law Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Rebbe of Lubavitch.
Initially, Reb Shmuel Abba wouldn’t hear of such a thing, telling his friend: “Yes, for certain reasons, I was willing to sell it to Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok of Lubavitch. However, when he said he couldn’t buy it, I had no intention of selling it to anyone else, although I was presented with numerous offers for it. Knowing that my ancestors and I have gone through fire and water to keep our family’s heirloom safe, I have faithfully remained its guardian. And now you are advising me to give it away?!”
However, after some more discussion, he saw the merit of Reb Pinye’s suggestion. He was concentrating on his and his family’s honor rather than focusing on what would be the greatest honor for the Sefer Torah. What was more respectful for the Sefer Torah, to be guarded by a descendant of the Slavita tzaddikim or to be used by a tzaddik? Additionally, Reb Pinye said that the tzaddik, the Rebbe, would pray for his continued well-being as well as for the neshomah of his recently departed wife.
But once Reb Shmuel Abba considered giving away the Sefer Torah, a new question arose. How much was the Sefer Torah actually worth? This was not merely a speculative concern. Once people heard that he was contemplating the future of the Sefer Torah, they showed a keen interest in it and began offering him large sums of money. They hoped that he would change his mind and put it up for sale to the highest bidder, whoever that would be.
Due to Reb Shmuel Abba’s concern about his financial situation, these large offers made an impression on him, even though he was already considering to give the Sefer Torah to the Lubavitcher Rebbe as a gift. Additionally, he was told by some of the potential buyers that they believed that just as a person should not leave Eretz Yisroel to reside elsewhere, so too, the Sefer Torah should not be removed from the sanctity of Eretz Yisroel.
This point jolted him. The primary reason he was considering to give it to the Rebbe was as an honor to the Sefer Torah, and now certain people were suggesting that this very act would be a sign of disrespect. Mentioning this concern to Reb Pinye, he said, “As close as I feel to the Rebbe, both personally and as a relative, perhaps it isn’t correct for me to send it out of Eretz Yisroel to give it to the Rebbe.”
By now, Reb Pinye had informed the Rebbe that there was a strong probability that he would be receiving this special Sefer Torah, and it was clear to him that the Rebbe was excited about this possibility. Around Chanukah time of that year, he had the honor of being Reb Shmuel Abba’s messenger to present the Rebbe with the mezuzah, besomim box and silver becher tray that the two brothers had used while in prison. When he presented the articles to the Rebbe the Rebbe stood up and exclaimed, “What have I done to merit receiving these [items]?!”
So receiving the Sefer Torah would be a momentous occasion for the Rebbe, one that he would cherish forever.
This was evident to Reb Pinye by the interest the Rebbe displayed in his correspondence with him concerning it. As per the Rebbe’s directive, he and other chassidim had ascertained that the Sefer Torah in question was indeed the Sefer Torah of Mesirus Nefesh. It was clear that if it weren’t, the Rebbe would not have been interested in acquiring or even receiving the Sefer Torah. So Reb Pinye was quite distressed at this turn of events, and with a troubled heart he informed the Rebbe about the “problem” of sending the Sefer Torah out of Eretz Yisroel.
The Rebbe replied that there was no halachah or even hiddur mitzvah preventing the removal of a Sefer Torah from Eretz Yisroel. When Reb Shmuel Abba heard this, he was fully prepared to give it to the Rebbe, as he had done with the other items of his ancestors.
However, his friends as well as those who were interested in acquiring it themselves reminded him of the financial loss he would incur if he simply gave it away.
“How will you support yourself?” they asked. The question began to gnaw at him, and once again everything came to a standstill.
Reb Pinye understood from the Rebbe that if the Sefer Torah were given to him as a present, he would accept it; however, he did not want to buy it as if he were buying a collectors’ item. The Rebbe had specifically instructed that if Reb Shmuel Abba insisted on receiving money, he could be given an amount that would not be seen as a bid, as he was not going to bid against others to acquire it. So matching the enormous sums of money that were being offered by others was out of the question.
Yet from the interest the Rebbe showed in the Sefer Torah, it was clear to Reb Pinye that this would be a present the Rebbe would enjoy and indeed cherish. What was he to do? How much should he offer? If Reb Shmuel Abba would consider his offer too small, he might reject it right away. On the other hand, if he offered too much, it would appear as if he were bidding for it, something the Rebbe did not want.
Reb Pinye finally came up with a solution. It was true that he was not going to buy the Sefer Torah although it was worth a tremendous amount. However, since Reb Shmuel Abba was in need of financial assistance, it would be only proper for the chassidim to show him their sincere appreciation for giving such an extraordinary gift to the Rebbe. In gratitude, they would help Reb Shmuel Abba cover his expenses for a number of years so that he, too, would benefit from this great gesture.
After working out all the details, Reb Pinye offered to give him three thousand dollars. Reb Shmuel Abba willingly agreed, provided that all the money be given to him up front so that he would not need to ask for it later.
Reb Pinye had many special blessings in his life; however, wealth was not one of them. Yet, he was determined that the Rebbe should receive this precious Sefer Torah. But how would he obtain the entire sum of money, and up front no less? It was 1954, and most of the Lubavitcher chassidim had only recently arrived in Eretz Yisroel as refugees from Russia or Europe. On the whole, they were not yet established and did not own businesses. Three thousand dollars was a lot of money to any average individual back then, but to them it was simply tremendous!
Reb Pinye decided to first approach certain Lubavitchers who had successfully established themselves somewhat and who — or so he thought — had the financial ability to facilitate the giving of this wonderful present. To his great disappointment, they declined, saying that an enormous amount such as this was beyond their capacity.
Reb Pinye then approached the chossid Reb Moshe Ashkenazi, the former Rov in Shanghai, China. He was not well-to-do and was going through difficult times himself, but Reb Pinye felt that the zechus of helping provide the Rebbe with the Sefer Torah would benefit him.
Reb Moshe eagerly endorsed the idea, and he committed to raise the money himself. Although many people participated in this gift for the Rebbe and gave him some money, the sum total of their contributions didn’t add up to that much. But Reb Moshe was determined to raise the entire amount. So he borrowed the vast majority of the sum needed, assuming the personal responsibility to repay it. He even pawned and sold many of his household possessions in order to obtain the full amount.
After receiving the amount agreed upon in full, Reb Shmuel Abba gave the Sefer Torah to Reb Pinye and asked him to ensure that it would be safely delivered to the Rebbe in Brooklyn. Reb Pinye was thrilled to send the Rebbe a telegram informing him that the Sefer Torah was in fact in his possession, and he inquired how he should send it.
The Rebbe replied, “Reb Binyomin Gorodetsky is now in Eretz Yisroel and will be returning to the United States shortly. It should be sent with him.” Reb Binyomin took the Sefer Torah and brought it to the Rebbe a few days before Rosh Hashanah, 5715 (1954).
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Ever since, this Sefer Torah has come to be known as “the Rebbe’s Sefer Torah” and has become an icon of Simchas Torah with the Rebbe. It is read from in 770 at special times. May we be zoche to see the Rebbe once again dancing with Sefer Torah and taking us out of galus, mamash now! ■