Reb Mottel Fisher was one of the handful of American boys that joined Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson for his Shabbos afternoon Tanya Shiur in Brownsville during the 1930s. In August of 1939, only weeks before World War II broke out, Reb Mottel with a few of his friends – including Rabbis Avrohom Hecht and Mottel Altein, set out in the historic trip to join the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Otwock, Poland, to be with the Frierdiker Rebbe. On the way to Poland, the group traveled through Paris, meeting with the Rebbe, who came to see them at the train station.
After returning to the US, and following the Frierdiker Rebbe’s escape from Europe – Mottel was part of the first class in the newly-established Lubavitcher Yeshiva at 770, studying there until 1944.
Last week, sponsored in part by a special grant by Dovid & Malkie Smetana to interview thirty elderly people of critical importance in the coming months, Reb Mottel came back to Crown Heights to relive and share his experiences, reminiscing about his “good old days” in 770 for the My Encounter with the Rebbe project.
The interview took place at the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Hershel Chitrik. After the interview, he met up with his old friend Rabbi Avrohom Hecht at their old Yeshiva stomping grounds – 770, speaking about their memories of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe in various parts of 770.
With the hat.
wow! it’s amazing how the two classmates just met again after
so many years.
also, which is rabbi hecht?
rabbi hecht is #1!!!
we come to Zaidy Cheht’s son Aron’s chabad house very often. They are amazing – no wonder why!!!!
Much Hatzlocho and keep up the great work!
From your classmate almost 65 years ago…
how beautiful!
He was a Chosid of the FR did not join Dor Hashvii.
keep up the great work – an einacle
Glad to see a Moised working hard to raise money and then going out to spend it on these valuable things.
We only realize what we have lost when it is to late so continue on capturing these precious memories before time runs out!
i loooove you goo zaidy GOOO ZAIDY !!! WOOHOO 🙂
i love the shooting!!!!!
His son Sam lives in NJ & is a mikurav of Rabbi Mendy Carelbach and Rabbi Sholom Leverton
tears….. history……. we should sitt our children down and explain to them carefully what it means to be a chosid, connection t the Rebbe etc …. and all these beautiful things ahhh !!!
please list who was in the first class
wow! all i have to say!. amazing
ZAIDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we love you zaidy!
where does helive now?