SECRET MISSIONS

The Zippel brothers of Milan did much for the Rebbe’s work in Italy and were involved in many secret missions throughout the Soviet Union. * On their frequent trips they served as a bridge between the Rebbe and the Jews behind the Iron Curtain and they also brought out valuable s’farim for the Rebbe’s library.

The Zippel brothers, R’ Shlomo Yosef, R’ Chaim, R’ Avrohom, and R’ Gershon, were well known to Italian Jewry. They were businessmen who were very successful and a sizable share of their profits were devoted to the communal good. They devoted themselves to establishing Judaism in Italy after they themselves returned there, and did much to rebuild that which was destroyed.

Their parents were Yaakov Meir and Malka Zippel. Their father was born in Poland but at a certain point he moved his household to Milan where his sons were born. Although this location was more modern than Poland, the boys received an authentic Jewish education from their parents and absorbed from them simple faith permeated with fear of heaven and Ahavas Yisroel.

Due to the events of the two world wars, it was difficult for them to devote themselves to their learning but thanks to Hashem’s blessings, they were successful in business. From a young age they devoted themselves to the communal good and after the Holocaust, when they returned to Milan, they continued their tradition of communal work in rebuilding Jewish life.

This period after the Holocaust was one in which they helped war refugees and were their support both materially and spiritually. Their home was open to all and they used their energy and money to aid the brokenhearted refugees who passed through Milan.

As a continuation of this work, the Zippel brothers worked hard to reestablish the religious, Ashkenazic community. They founded the Ohel Yaakov shul which was named for their father and provided various religious services.

The relationship between the brothers was remarkable and an outstanding example of brotherly love. All their lives they worked together and one never said to the other, “This is my apartment,” or “This is my car.” Rather, everything belonged to all of them. Not surprisingly, the name Zippel became a badge of honor throughout communities in Europe.

The Rebbe, whose concern is to uplift and enable the Jewish people to thrive everywhere, found in the Zippels loyal partners for his work. The ones who connected them to the Rebbe were the Chassidim, R’ Mordechai Perlov and R’ Yaakov Gansburg of Italy. Over the years, the brothers had a special relationship with the Rebbe. They saw him as a leader who cared about every Jew and they opened their hearts and pocketbooks to him, ready to finance anything the Rebbe wanted.

The Rebbe encouraged them to continue their blessed work and even highlighted that this was a family tradition from years gone by. The Rebbe wrote to them: Your family carries the flag of Torah and mitzvos in your community with love and enthusiasm. The truth is, this is the central idea of Chassidus in general and Chabad Chassidus in particular, which is based on a threefold love: love of G-d, love of the Torah, and love of the Jewish people. May it be G-d’s will that for many more years you will continue to bear this merit proudly and enthusiastically and to also be examples to others who will see and do the same. Since one ascends in all matters that are good and holy, may it be G-d’s will that you continue to do, in a way of ongoing increase.”

ASKING THE REBBE TO SEND SHLUCHIM TO ITALY

The connection between the Zippel family and the Rebbe began in the early years of the Rebbe’s leadership. From a letter that the Rebbe wrote on 7 Elul 5712/1952, we see that one of the brothers had visited the Rebbe in yechidus. The Rebbe asked that he give regards from him to Anash when he returns to Italy. Back then already, the Rebbe drafted him to build a mikva there.

A few years later, the brother R’ Shlomo Yosef asked the Rebbe to send shluchim to Italy so they would raise up the banner of Torah and Judaism. The shliach, R’ Gershon Mendel Garelik and his family were sent in 1959. R’ Chaim Zippel even gave the young couple his apartment.

The Rebbe considered the Zippel brothers, especially the older brother, R’ Shlomo Yosef, his loyal partners in his holy work. Any request the Rebbe made of them was responded to willingly and graciously. Throughout the years they received many instructions from the Rebbe. For example, in 1959, the Rebbe wanted to buy land for a Gan Yisroel camp in Italy. The Rebbe’s secretary, R’ Binyamin Klein said that he heard from R’ Shlomo Yosef that he told the Rebbe in yechidus that it was hard for him to make a purchase of such magnitude at that time due to his difficult financial situation. The Rebbe said, “A deficit in business can eventually be covered but if one Jewish child does not go to camp this year, it is a loss which cannot be rectified.” So, as a loyal Chassid, as soon as he returned to Milan he bought a place for the camp in Porto Ceresio.

A few years later, in 5726/1966, the kosher restaurant in Milan closed. The kosher restaurant had served not only the local residents but many tourists. As soon as the Rebbe heard about this, he asked R’ Shlomo Yosef to quickly reopen it.

When Mr. Zippel had yechidus with the Rebbe he asked who will manage it. The Rebbe told R’ Avrohom Lipsker, who had just gone to work in chinuch in Milan, to run the restaurant too (in yechidus later with R’ Lipsker, the Rebbe explained why he had suggested that he take on this role). R’ Gershon Mendel Garelik was assigned the job of making the initial arrangements for the opening. The restaurant was named “Eshel Yisroel” for the Rebbe’s brother, with the Rebbe’s consent.

The Rebbe involved the Zippel brothers in opening a yeshiva in Milan. The brothers bought the first buildings of the Merkos L’Inyanei Chinuch in Italy where the Chabad school was located.

The Rebbe was involved in all their business deals and in everything that went on with them. In 5729 the Zippel family bought a large property, about half a million square meters, near the sea, in order to build and develop the area. The Rebbe was involved in all aspects of the purchase and gave them big brachos for this deal.

In a yechidus that took place at that time for one of the family members, the Rebbe displayed great knowledge about the property in all its details, where there was a mountain and a reservoir of water above it, etc. They planted many olive trees and every year they would send the Rebbe olive oil for Chanuka in order to fulfill “from the fat of the land, that is Italy of Greece.” The family received thank you letters from the Rebbe for this.

THE REBBE WAS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER IN THE ZIPPEL FAMILY FIRM

In 5732, the brothers decided to bequeath 7% of the shares of the company to the Rebbe as their official partner in their business. Uncharacteristically, the Rebbe agreed to be their partner. The agreement was even written up and signed in a contract and the Rebbe was happy about it and thanked them in a letter. He blessed them with an increased and expanded measure of success from Hashem.

One year, when R’ Shlomo Yosef was in the family office in New York (where they had transferred most of the business after they were caught in Russia, as will be recounted), he received a letter from the IRS which informed him of a huge tax payment. Naturally, he was very concerned.

That night he had yechidus, as had been prearranged. The Rebbe spoke to him about communal matters and then suddenly asked him, “I see from your face that you are worried. What happened?”

R’ Shlomo Yosef did not want to upset the Rebbe, especially when the Rebbe was talking to him about important communal matters, but the Rebbe urged him to tell him. R’ Shlomo Yosef told the Rebbe about the tax and the penalties. The Rebbe asked him, “Do you have the letter with you?”

He said that he did, and he took it out of his pocket and gave it to the Rebbe. The Rebbe looked at it and said, “Let’s make a deal. You deal with my matters and I’ll deal with your matters.”

When Zippel agreed, the Rebbe gave him some assignments regarding chinuch. The Rebbe then took a pencil and corrected some numbers on the IRS letter and gave it back to R’ Shlomo Yosef saying, “This is what you will pay.” Needless to say, that is precisely what happened.

R’ Shlomo Yosef merited what many veteran Chassidim did not merit. Whenever he came to the US he had yechidus and spent many hours there. These meetings took place several times a year.

MISSIONS
FROM THE REBBE

The highlight of their devotion to the Rebbe wasn’t in their enormous monetary donations for the Rebbe’s mosdos but a series of secret missions that the brothers carried out in Russia, or as the Rebbe would call it, “that country.”

It was 5715-6 and the Zippel brothers had built a huge factory in Milan to manufacture women’s fur coats. The business was successful. They bought the furs at various trade shows in Leningrad, which were established by the communist government, of course. Thanks to their vast business dealings in Russia, they were fully trusted by the government and were able to freely enter Russia.

The Zippel brothers, who did not make a move, big or small, without the Rebbe’s consent and blessing, reported to the Rebbe. These trips to Russia were generally made by the brothers Shlomo Yosef and Avrohom. The Rebbe told them to make an effort to see to it that the trade fair in Leningrad did not take place on Shabbos. As the brothers wondered about this instruction, the Rebbe told them that their impact on the local market was strong enough that their request would be accepted, even though the communist regime which persecuted any sign of religion and Judaism was then at the height of its power. In fact, their request was acceded to and the fur exhibition was closed on Saturdays.

Some time later, the Rebbe wanted to make the brothers his special emissaries to that country. The goal was to create, through them, a “bridge” to Russian Jews, to give them Jewish ritual items and convey messages from them to the Rebbe and from the Rebbe to them.

There were other businessmen who were allowed to enter Russia, but most of them were terribly frightened of the communists and refused to help the Jews in the Soviet Union. But the Zippel brothers agreed to the Rebbe’s request.

The way it worked was, R’ Shlomo Yosef, who was a seasoned businessman with a good heart, would go to New York a few times a year. As always, he had yechidus for hours. In 770, suitcases with Jewish items, talleisim, t’fillin, s’farim, Siddurim, and Tanyas awaited him. He was meant to take it all to Leningrad and was given an address where he was to leave them.

The way back from Russia was used to take out handwritten manuscripts of maamarei Chassidus of the Rebbeim which were not yet in print, bichlech of Chassidus, etc. Their contact person was usually the Chassidishe rav, R’ Lubanov and the Liepler rav, R’ Epstein, and others.

Of course, these assignments entailed great danger, but certain leniencies were extended to the brothers because they were men of stature, almost of diplomatic standing, and the customs people were told not to check their baggage. They often had yechidus after their return from the Soviet Union. During these private audiences, R’ Shlomo Yosef would give regards from Anash in Russia and give a detailed report about what he saw and heard. He was asked to give messages to the Rebbe by the Chassidim who were closed off and persecuted behind the Iron Curtain.

Despite the enormous danger, the Zippel brothers removed many manuscripts from Russia, including from Ohr Ha’Torah of the Tzemach Tzedek (and possibly also writings from R’ Levi Yitzchok, the Rebbe’s father. For the Rebbe once said, “A businessman brought me a handwritten manuscript from my father. He seems not to put on Rabbeinu Tam t’fillin but he does not know what great nachas he caused me,” and some believe he was referring to Zippel).

In the Rebbe’s library are many bichlech attributed to Zippel as they are inscribed in the Rebbe’s handwriting. (The Rebbe referred to the s’farim by the name of those who brought them as though to give credit for the revelation of the light of Chassidus to those who were moser nefesh to redeem-save these writings). For example, in 5734, Otzar Chassidim printed Likkutei Hagahos L’Sefer HaTanya, mainly of the Tzemach Tzedek and also by R’ Eliyahu Yosef Rivlin. Toward the close of publication the Rebbe received a bichel through R’ Shlomo Yosef and this was called “Lechu Na Zippel.” It has additional glosses to Tanya that were included at the end of this work.

Any bachur who learned in 770 in those days (until 5738), remembers R’ Shlomo Yosef Zippel, the tall philanthropist with the long mustache who would have yechidus and spend a lot of time with the Rebbe.

Of course, all the assignments in Russia were clandestine and nobody spoke of them except for the few who knew a little bit about it.

R’ Shimon Lazarov, shliach in Texas, said that in those days, the Rebbe spoke with his uncle, R’ Shmuel Betzalel Altheus, about trying to redeem the writings of his grandfather, R’ Shimon Lazarov a”h, and his chiddushim on Shas. R’ Lazarov served as the rav of the Chabad community in Leningrad. He asked R’ Shlomo Yosef, on his next trip to Leningrad, to visit his grandmother who still lived in Leningrad, in order to see whether she had any writings of her husband.

R’ Shlomo Yosef did so, but due to the grandmother’s fear it did not work out, and a number of his s’farim arrived only after the dismantling of the Soviet regime.

(When the Marina Roscha shul was rebuilt in Moscow fifteen years ago, they found many of the small Tanyas that were smuggled into Russia by the Zippels. These Tanyas were hidden in one of the walls, no doubt due to fear of searches and confiscation. The shluchim who went to Russia in 5740 say that they met some of Anash in Leningrad who remembered the Zippel brothers and one of them said he had received help from them to buy his apartment.)

KGB AGENTS LOOKING
FOR THE ZIPPELS

One year, the Zippels went back to Russia, but something went wrong. They missed their connecting flight (either in Helsinki or Copenhagen) to Moscow. Their suitcases arrived before they did. The police and customs officials opened the suitcases and discovered many Jewish items.

A few hours later, the Zippel brothers landed, and as soon as they got off the plane they were arrested. After lengthy interrogations they were put under house arrest at the hotel. They were finally allowed to leave Russia but not before promising and signing (at first they wanted them to sign on Shabbos, but of course they refused) that they would return for their trial.

Rebbetzin Bassie Garelik, shlucha in Milan, said that while the two brothers were being interrogated by the KGB, she had yechidus. In the middle of their conversation, the Rebbe suddenly said about R’ Avrohom, “that he is actually a very fine young man,” with no connection to what had been spoken about.

The brothers were released and left the Soviet Union. They reported to the Rebbe about their unpleasant experience and asked the Rebbe whether to go back to Russia. The Rebbe told them not to return and to conduct their business elsewhere.

The Rebbe’s blessing to them, “and great is their merit to draw down for them Hashem’s blessing to see Jewish-Chassidish nachas from all their descendants for length of days and good years” was fulfilled. Many of their descendants are devoted communal activists and R’ Chaim Zippel has children and grandchildren on shlichus.

***

In 5738, R’ Shlomo Yosef became very sick. His brothers made a special trip to 770 and were received in gan eden ha’tachton by the Rebbe who told them to add a name and get an aliya in 770 and to make a Mi sh’Beirach.

R’ Shlomo Yosef was the first to buy medical equipment for the Rebbe’s room after the heart attack on Shmini Atzeres of that year. He spent a lot of money for that purpose. When he passed away, his brothers in Milan received a long letter from the Rebbe, consisting of three pages of consolation and encouragement.

When they prepared the inscription for his gravestone, they referred to his communal work and his support of the development of Judaism and chinuch in Italy. The Rebbe told them to add the words “and other countries,” no doubt because of the various missions and communal work he did in the Rebbe’s service.