Spain ’52: Kashrus on Campus

Since G-d has brought you to Madrid, even if it is for a short while, the inner purpose of it is to help a fellow Jew in matters of Torah and Mitzvos * Seeing the extreme interest these students take in eating Kosher and, myself, feeling the urgency of it, I was obliged to help them * I receive letters from more students expressing their desire to eat kosher * I feel sure that you have instructed Barcelona to provide kosher for Passover food for all the students in Madrid * Mivtza Kashrus on Campus 

In the summer of 1975 the Rebbe launched Mivtza Kashrus. However the Rebbe’s campaign to encourage Kosher eating dates back many years earlier, with the Rebbe encouraging the creation of Kosher Dining Clubs in Colleges and Universities across the globe, to encourage Jewish men and women to marry Jewish spouses, and prevent intermarriage.

In this installment we present the Rebbe’s earliest known involvement in such a project, creating a Kosher kitchen for students in the University of Madrid (Spain), in 1952. This project, as all other Chabad activities in Europe and North Africa, was directed by Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky.

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).

Establishing a Kosher Kitchen in Madrid

In a letter dated Shvat 3, 5712, the Rebbe writes to Mr. Moshe Levanda the following letter, expressing thanks for his sponsorship of a Kosher Kitchen in Madrid, and mentioning a visit of Rabbi Gorodetzky to Spain (translated from Yiddish – Igros Kodesh Vol. 5 page 200):

I was gratified to hear from my personal representative and director of our European Aid Bureau, Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky, regarding his visit to Madrid.

I was very happy to hear about your important work for the benefit of the community, that you and your spouse have dedicated a synagogue for the community, etc., and now you have taken upon yourself to significantly add to the community by establishing a Kosher kitchen, and you have dedicated a building for this purpose in the center of the city…

The Inner Purpose of Living in Madrid

In a letter dated Adar 5 5712, the Rebbe writes to Rabbi Moshe Dovid Schildrkraut, the Shochet in Madrid, expressing thanks for his help in establishing the Kosher Kitchen in Madrid (translated from Hebrew – Igros Kodesh Vol. 5 page 249):

When my representative, Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky, visited Madrid, he met you again, and he wrote to me about you and about the help he received from you for establishing the Kosher Kitchen in the city. May you continue with strength in matters of Torah and Mitzvos to help others. Since you live there, you will surely look after this matter to ensure that it is done in the proper manner and it should be a lasting project. Thanks for keeping me updated on this matter.

It is known that G-d plans the footsteps of man, and since G-d has brought you to Madrid, even if it is for a short while, the inner purpose of it is to help a fellow Jew in matters of Torah and Mitzvos.

And even more so, the Ba’al Shem Tov has taught that a soul may come down to this world for 70 or 80 years to do a favor for another Jew, physically or spiritually.

There is no need to expound on this matter, and I am sure that you try with all your might to spread the light of Torah in your surroundings through action, which this is the channel to bring down and receive blessings from the source of all blessings, in all your personal needs, the physical and the spiritual.

Poor Jewish Students From Morocco Want Kosher Food

On February 26 1952 [Shvat 30 5712] Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky wrote a letter to the Chairman of the JDC in Europe, Mr. Moses Beckleman, describing his visit to Madrid, Spain and the urgent need for Kosher food for Jewish students in Madrid:

You are perhaps aware of my recent visit to Madrid and of my efforts there to help a group of poor Jewish students from Spanish Morocco to realize their ardent wish to eat Kosher.

Seeing the extreme interest these students take in eating Kosher and, myself, feeling the urgency of it, I was obliged to help them. These young men are of poor Jewish families from Spanish Morocco. They pay their board and residence themselves. But it will cost a little more if they have to pay their board and residence separately. This little difference in the cost of living the students have no possibility to pay.

I take the liberty to ask you that you request your representative in Barcelona to help these students. So much the more that the help they need is a very small one…

We have organized in Madrid a Committee of these young people which is especially concerned with eating Kosher… Your representative can also contact the Shochet of Madrid, Rabbi Shildkraut who is highly interested in this problem too.

I feel confident that you will do your best to help in this matter and thank you in advance for it.

JDC: We Will Let You Know

A few days later, on March 2 1952 [Adar 5 5712], Mr. Herbert Katzki (JDC – Paris) responds to Rabbi Gorodetzky:

We have your letter of February 26 regarding the group of Jewish students from Spanish Morocco now in Madrid, who you write wish to arrange for Kosher food. The information which you present to us is new and we have no knowledge concerning it. We shall try to make some inquiry and let you know as soon as we have any word which we can pass along to you.

The Kitchen Is Already Functioning!

Two days later, on March 4 1952 [Adar 7 5712), Rabbi Gorodetzky responds to Mr. Katzki, clarifying that he isn’t asking for approval, rather reporting that the project has already begun, and needs financial support:

I have your letter of March 2 regarding the group of Jewish students in Madrid and beg to inform you about the following:

A kosher restaurant for these students in Madrid is already open. It has begun functioning on February 26. A group of 12 students eat there actually … A fitting apartment was rented for this purpose.

Moreover, I receive letters from more students expressing their desire to eat kosher. But, unfortunately, I cannot afford to authorize them to eat in the restaurant because the 100$.00 I left them to compensate the difference in the cost of kosher and not-kosher food till the help of the JDC reaches them, is not enough for a greater number of students. There is no ground to refuse the new students and make a difference between the 12 students eating already kosher and those willing to. It would be good if your representative in Barcelona visit the students to see on the spot what can be done.

I do hope that the JDC and you in particular will be interested in this matter and will do whatever possible for the students.

Kosher For Passover Meals

On April 2 1952 [Nissan 7 5712] Rabbi Gorodetzky reminds the Chairman of the JDC in Europe, Mr. Moses Beckleman, that Pesach is around the corner, and the students need Kosher L’Pesach meals:

Pursuant to our conversation, and the letter I received from Mr. Katzky, I trust that you have by now received a detailed report from Barcelona, concerning the matter of providing kosher meals for the Jewish students in Madrid, especially kosher Passover food.

Inasmuch as the time to Passover is very short, I feel sure that you have instructed Barcelona to provide kosher for Passover food for all the students in Madrid, and for kosher meals thereafter.

I shall appreciate receiving word from you to that effect, as you can well understand our concern in the matter.

With best wishes for a kosher and happy Passover, and warm personal regards,

JDC: Support for a Couple of Months

On April 8 1952 [Nissan 13 5712] Mr. Katzki responded to Rabbi Gorodetzky that they agree to support the kitchen for a few months (until the end of the school year):

We have your letter of April 2 concerning the students in Madrid. We shall try to make some arrangements to be of some aid to the students on a trial basis for a couple of months, to see how it works out.

We learned that Rabbi Shildkraut has received his visa for the U.S. and expects to be emigrating shortly. This, of course, may have some effect on whether or not the common kitchen can continue and especially whether kosher meat, etc., will continue to be obtainable in Madrid.

We shall watch the situation carefully.

The Rebbe: “I Have Spoken To Rabbi Gorodetzky”

At the end of the school year the JDC decided that they will no longer support the Kosher kitchen, especially since the Shochet left town. In a letter dated Teves 1 5713 the Rebbe writes to Mr. Yosef Ben Maimon of Madrid about this issue (translated from Hebrew – Igros Kodesh Vol. 7 page 107):

I have received your letter from the 5th of Kislev, and since my secretary does not write in Spanish, I must respond to you in Hebrew and you will surely understand the gist of my letter.

When my personal representative, Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky, was here not long ago, I spoke to him again about the situation regarding the kitchen for the students in Madrid; about ten days ago Rabbi Gorodetzky returned to Paris, and he will surely do whatever he can to correct the situation; if anything has changed since then, please report it directly to Rabbi Gorodetzky, so he can take care of it quickly, and send a copy to me.