1
Many mayors and government officials over the years presented to the Rebbe a symbolic “key” to the city they headed.
2
The first was Rabbi Yaakov Peles, founder of the Tomchei Tmimim branch in Kiryat Gat, Eretz Yisrael. He convinced the mayor of the city, Mr. Gideon Naor, to present the Rebbe with a key. On Chai Elul 5722 (1962) the mayor appointed Rabbi Peles in a special ceremony as the city’s emissary to present the city key to the Rebbe, which he did – during the Farbrengen on the night before Erev Rosh Hashana 5723.
3
In a sicha following, the Rebbe explained the significance of this presentation in halachic terms. Giving a key is a form of kinyan, transferring ownership. Transferring “ownership” of the city to the Rebbe means making a commitment to run it in the way the new “owner” would want — based on Torah and mitzvos as illuminated by Chassidus.
4
At the end of the Farbrengen, the Rebbe went up to his room holding the key as pictured here. The Rebbe later penned a letter to the mayor thanking him and explaining the significance of his gift.
This paved the way for many others to follow.