The following account shows how much effort the Rebbe made in order to help one of the shluchim raise money for Chabad institutions.
The Rebbe, being the Rosh B’nei Yisroel and leader of Chabad Chassidim, is the one who stands at the top of the pyramid when it comes to all Lubavitch matters in particular and the Jewish people in general. When it was necessary, the Rebbe devoted himself and his time to carrying out administrative functions and even helped raise funds for Lubavitcher institutions.
We saw this with the development of the Machne Israel fund, with the Rebbe spending time meeting with the donors and their families who had committed to providing financial support to the Rebbe’s shluchim.
One of the fascinating stories which sheds a bit of light on this aspect of the Rebbe’s work, i.e. raising money for Chabad mosdos, was recently publicized in an account written by the late shliach in England, R’ Nachman Sudak a”h, who passed away in Sivan of this year.
SPARE ME THE EFFORT AND THE WORRY
It was 17 Shevat 5741 when one of London’s wealthy supporters had a private audience with the Rebbe. He was well acquainted with the growing network of Chabad institutions in England that had been built with much toil over decades by R’ Sudak and a team of shluchim. He even lived near Lubavitch House, Chabad headquarters in the UK. Since he was in New York for the marriage of his son, he sought a yechidus even though private audiences were all but abolished by that time.
During the yechidus, the Rebbe spoke about a number of issues that the man raised. The Rebbe made him an unusual promise: “There is the promise that ‘four measures will belong to you,’ i.e. when you give, for example, 100 pounds to tz’daka, Hashem afterward gives you four times that amount, 400 pounds. And if you give a million pounds to tz’daka, then Hashem gives four millions pounds.
“There is an opportunity now – I don’t know how big your appetite is, but in any case – to receive four times the amount of what you give to tz’daka. Do so with joy and gladness of heart.”
At this point, in a seemingly anomalous fashion, the Rebbe asked that he give a sum to tz’daka for the work of Lubavitch in London: “Thank you very much if among the tz’daka that you give you would also give toward the institutions that are run in the spirit of the Rebbe, my father-in-law. For although you can fulfill your obligation of tz’daka by giving elsewhere, in which case I would have to look for someone else, you would save me the anguish and spare me the effort and the worry.”
It would seem that the Rebbe personally appealed to him to remove the “headaches” and worries having to do with fundraising for the work of Lubavitch.
Before he left yechidus, the Rebbe asked him to send regards now and then from the Chabad institutions in London, “and not like someone on the outside but as someone on the inside.” Thus the Rebbe encouraged him to be a partner of Chabad’s work in his city.
Half a year went by and in Elul of 5743/1982, the Chabad mosdos in London were in great arrears. Whatever donations and sources of money they had were not enough to cover their expenses.
R’ Nachman Sudak, the Rebbe’s pioneer shliach in England, remembered the Rebbe’s request of that man from London and wondered whether this was what the Rebbe meant when he asked him to save him from anguish and to give an amount to the tune of a million pounds sterling. He went to consult with the mashpia R’ Mendel Futerfas who spent some months of the year in London and was familiar with Chabad’s work in that city and the country. They concluded that this was the time the Rebbe referred to and the wealthy man should be asked to help out.
Unfortunately, their request was turned down. In R’ Sudak’s ears rang the rest of what the Rebbe said, “If you don’t give, I will have to look for someone else to be a partner.” He realized that he had to look for other wealthy donors to be partners in the Rebbe’s work.
A PARTNER WORTH A MILLION
Mr. Seymour Gorman of London was a well known and respected businessman who ran an extensive business empire with his father and brother. He was the one that R’ Sudak turned to with an unusual offer, that he be a partner of the Rebbe by giving a large donation to Chabad mosdos in London. Gorman asked how much he had in mind. R’ Sudak mentioned the amount that the Rebbe had stated as a possibility, “a million pounds sterling.”
Gorman thought about it. It was too much for him but he did not want to negate the suggestion outright. He finally said, “At this point, I am unable to give donations of that size. However, at this time we are involved in deals that can, in the future, earn us profits that will enable us to give tz’daka on a broad scale. I would like to consult with my father (Yaakov Chaim – Jack) and with my brother Hershel, and then we will write to the Rebbe. If the Rebbe agrees that we should be partners who have the privilege of preventing him from having anguish, we will be happy to take on this commitment.”
R’ Sudak left the Gorman house with mixed feelings. Not many days later, Mr. Gorman went to New York. On 15 Elul he wrote to the Rebbe about the business deals he was doing at the time and he mentioned his conversation with R’ Sudak.
The next day, he received the Rebbe’s response: 1) [about the general matter] it should be in a good and auspicious time. 2) [Regarding his business dealings] find out when the market in that country is right for this. 3) [Regarding the amount of the donation] whatever amount the hanhala in London tells you plus 36 pounds. 4) [Regarding his wishes and blessings to the Rebbe] whoever blesses [is himself blessed]; the enclosed is for tz’daka in London.
The following day, 17 Elul, Gorman wrote to the Rebbe and said he had consulted with his father and brother and they decided that they happily agreed to the partnership including the amount mentioned, a millions pounds sterling.
That same day, the Rebbe responded: Received and many thanks, many thanks for the good news. Our Sages promised in all such matters that Hashem helps, and may it be with joy and gladness of heart. I will mention it at the tziyun.
That this response went out on Friday before candle lighting showed how highly the Rebbe regarded this agreement.
The next day, at the farbrengen the Rebbe held Shabbos afternoon, 18 Elul, he gave a bottle of mashke to Mr. Gorman and told him, “This is for our new initiative.”
THE REBBE FOLLOWS DEVELOPMENTS
The next morning, Gorman flew back to Europe. Monday evening, the first meeting took place in his house with his father, brother and R’ Nachman Sudak. During the meeting, Gorman told about the kiruvim he received from the Rebbe, such as the Rebbe’s response on Erev Shabbos.
They began to talk business. The Gorman family members told R’ Sudak that as they had said from the beginning, they could not give such a large amount of money at that time. However, they were about to make a serious investment in buying a successful company and they hoped that after this acquisition the company would make a profit, and out of these profits they would be able to set aside amounts until they reached a million pounds sterling.
Still, in order to strengthen their commitment to the Rebbe, they offered to make an agreement in which they wrote it as though they had given the entire amount to R’ Sudak and he gave it back to them as a loan until they would be able to repay it. This way, their commitment would not just be a “donation” but the “payment of a loan,” which would obligate them all the more.
As an advance payment they gave him 5000 pounds. At the end of the meeting they all drank l’chaim from the mashke that the Rebbe had given Gorman on Shabbos.
***
Gorman worked on finding potential partners to buy the company he spoke about with the primary condition that from the profits they would set aside one million pounds sterling for Lubavitcher mosdos in London.
The Rebbe inquired about the progress of the arrangement made between Chabad and the Gorman family. For example, at the end of Tishrei 5744, the Rebbe sent a response about something to R’ Sudak at the end of which he asked what was doing with Gorman.
A few days later, R’ Sudak told the Rebbe that since they had spoken, nothing significant had taken place and it all depended on the Gormans finding partners and in buying the company.
R’ Chadakov called R’ Sudak and asked what was meant by the words “since they had spoken,” and he added that the Rebbe wanted to know the details of their discussion.
R’ Sudak began relaying the details of the meeting at the Gorman home as soon as he had returned from the Rebbe, but R’ Chadakov stopped him and asked him to wait. R’ Sudak could hear an extension being picked up and he knew that the Rebbe was also on the line. The Rebbe was involving himself personally in helping him obtain donations and wanted to know all the details.
R’ Sudak told of his arrangement with the Gormans, with R’ Chadakov and the Rebbe listening. The Rebbe did not get involved in the conversation; he just occasionally asked, “nu” and “vos,” etc.
A RARE GESTURE FROM THE REBBE
Money is always a difficult struggle for people and fund-raising all the more so, and this is why the Rebbe spoke in terms of the anguish he would have in looking for partners. Two and a half years went by. Throughout this time, the Gormans worked hard to buy the company, to establish it on a firm footing and to expand it, for the purpose of selling it afterward.
On 14 Iyar 5746/1946, Pesach Sheini, R’ Sudak wrote to R’ Chadakov that Gorman and his partners “requested strongly to assist them in being able to deliver the aforementioned sum into the Rebbe’s hands.” The deal had been completed and profitable and now they wanted to give their generous donation.
In R’ Sudak’s letter there was an unusual request, that the Rebbe receive Gorman and his partners in yechidus. He said that he knew that the Rebbe no longer received people for yechidus, but suggested that perhaps the Rebbe would receive them in Gan Eden HaTachton or near the door to Gan Eden HaElyon. If that wasn’t possible, then during the farbrengen, “the main thing being to give it (the donation) to the Rebbe.”
The seasoned businessmen would not allow this precious opportunity to slip through their fingers, and they wanted to personally give their donation directly to the Rebbe, not through his emissaries. It was a golden opportunity for them to meet with the Rebbe and personally ask for his blessings.
About ten days later, R’ Chadakov called R’ Sudak and told him that the Rebbe agreed and even added that if they came on a day that he went to the Ohel, he was willing to delay or postpone going. The Rebbe said the meeting should take place “near the door in the hall.” The Rebbe also approved a list of participants in the rare meeting: Seymour Gorman and his partners Chanoch Schuldenfrei, Aryeh Leib Lipkin, Yitzchok Tzvi Wilder, and Zalman Margolis, together with R’ Sudak.
R’ Sudak relayed the Rebbe’s response to Gorman and his partners and explained how unusual this was. He said it wasn’t for the amount of money they were giving, but more in anticipation of their continued support of Lubavitch and its work in England, on a large scale, and even doubling this donation.
R’ Chadakov called R’ Sudak and told him that the Rebbe expressed surprise at his request that they double their donation to Chabad in England. “Surely he [R’ Sudak] did not say this in my name at all,” said the Rebbe.
The meeting was arranged for Tuesday, 17 Sivan 5746 after Mincha.
A few days later, R’ Sudak wrote a report to the Rebbe as well as a pidyon nefesh for all of the donors. The Rebbe noted on the top of the letter that surely everything was prepared and arranged for the guests and emphasized that a program should be planned, for before and after the visit.
A POWERFUL ENCOUNTER
Nothing appears in the diaries of the bachurim who wrote about the goings-on at 770 at that time about this unique meeting. It seems that the group of partners and donors entered Gan Eden HaTachton unseen.
As arranged ahead of time, after Mincha the entire group, some with their wives, entered Gan Eden HaTachton. Gorman began the meeting by thanking the Rebbe on behalf of them all for the great privilege of meeting with him and personally giving him the donation for the mosdos in England. Gorman expressed his hopes and prayers that they continue to help the Rebbe in his holy work and in even greater measure.
He gave the check to the Rebbe with the recipient’s name omitted so the Rebbe could fill it in and give it to whichever mosad he saw fit. The Rebbe graciously accepted the check and blessed them with good health, good parnasa, and much nachas.
The Rebbe then said a brief sicha concerning tz’daka and the parsha, B’Haalos’cha, focusing on the menorah which was made of a piece of gold, symbolizing unity, and had seven branches, symbolizing the different roles that Jews have to light up themselves and the world.
The Rebbe then referred to the check and said: I see that there was no need for any special effort to urge you to give this sum, and additionally without any publicity, advertisement, or receiving a medal, and nevertheless I hope and trust that you will continue, willingly, as Mr. Gorman said, in this direction and in even greater measure.
Like every Jew, I am accustomed not to be satisfied in receiving one dollar and surely this serves as a good beginning for two dollars. This applies to a million and two million pounds sterling, and even more, in the near future. For when Hashem sees that a Jew decides to give an outstanding sum for a good cause, even though – through natural means – he does not have the wherewithal to attain this sum, Hashem, who is omnipotent, opens for him channels and sources of hashpaa so he can attain these sums, so that not only is he able to keep his promise but he even promises on that day and in that hour that in the future he will do even better.
You see that not only am I not satisfied with double, but as much as is possible.
The Rebbe concluded with numerous blessings and apologized for receiving them in such a limiting way, saying it was because we are all in galus and therefore he had no choice.
The Rebbe then gave out dollars for tz’daka to each of them and mashke. With the conclusion of this unusual meeting, the guests were invited to a nearby home where they farbrenged to sum up the encounter.
The phone rang and one of the Rebbe’s secretaries was on the line who told R’ Sudak that he had been given a special instruction for him. R’ Sudak hurried over to the office where he was told that the Rebbe asked him to explain to the group the concept of “until the flame goes up of its own accord,” one of the points that the Rebbe had said in his talk to them.
THE REBBE GETS INVOLVED IN BUSINESS DECISIONS
In the following months, R’ Sudak continued to update the Rebbe about developments since the meeting with the Rebbe. For example, on 23 Sivan, he wrote that one of the Gormans and one of the partners committed to an additional donation toward Chabad mosdos in England, the sum of two million pounds.
The Rebbe was pleased and immediately responded with thanks for the good news and said he would mention it at the tziyun for good news in this and more.
The Gormans bought a new business which they also hoped to improve and sell at a profit with a certain amount of the tz’daka to be given to Chabad mosdos.
R’ Sudak wrote to the Rebbe and suggested that they deposit the large sum of money so they could earn interest on it.
On 15 Av, the Rebbe sent a detailed letter in response to R’ Sudak’s writing that the money go toward the mosdos including paying off half of their debts and using the rest for some deal that would earn them profits to augment their funds. The Rebbe wrote not to do business with tz’daka money (even if people think it’s guaranteed) but to put the rest in the bank until they needed it. The Rebbe also said to found a new Chabad house and to publish at least one Chabad book. The Rebbe said that since chutz l’aretz is a branch of Eretz Yisroel, they should send some money (at least 10,000 pounds) to Eretz Yisroel, 5000 to Chabad rabbanim in Yerushalayim to distribute to Chabad mosdos there and 5000 to the vaad ruchni of Kfar Chabad to distribute to Chabad mosdos there.
The Rebbe also added a technical point that since the fees for converting such a large check might be high, they should look into whether it was more worthwhile to write smaller checks to each individual mosad.
R’ Leibel Groner, who conveyed the response to R’ Sudak, added orally in the Rebbe’s name that they should call a meeting of those who were involved and tell them the suggestions that were raised and make decisions that day, if possible, which would make the Rebbe very pleased.
As soon as he received the answer, R’ Sudak met in Gorman’s house with the other donors and he told them the Rebbe’s answer. They discussed the issues and decided to change how they would allocate the money as per the Rebbe’s wishes: 1) to pay half of Chabad’s debts, 2) not to do business with the rest of the money, 3) to found two new Chabad houses, 4) to publish two books, 5) to send 18,000 pounds to Eretz Yisroel.
They conveyed their decisions to the Rebbe and the Rebbe swiftly responded, saying it gave him great joy.