By COLlive reporter
There are many firsts that Worcester, Massachusetts, has the merit of being a part of.
The city had the first building built for Lubavitch from scratch; the first midwinter N’shei Chabad Convention acknowledged by the Rebbe. But the most memorable first occurred in October 1966, exactly 50 years ago, this Simchas Torah.
On Hoshana Rabba eve, Worcester’s Head Shliach Rabbi Hershel Fogelman was sitting in his office at Yeshiva/Chabad and picked up the phone and appealed to Rabbi Mordechai Chodakov to ask the Rebbe for help.
In the previous years, Rabbi Fogelman drew large crowds to the Simchas Torah Hakofas. In addition to his home crowd of students and their families, he invited a Reform Rabbi to bring his congregation, as well as many locals.
Rabbi Fogelman was feeling overwhelmed with the challenge of creating Simcha, and keeping the Hakofos going with just himself and a couple of Shluchim. So he called 770 Eastern Parkway to relay his feelings to the Rebbe.
At around 11:30 AM the next morning, Rabbi Chodakov called back and said the Rebbe had made a momentous decision. He is sending 3 bochurim to Worcester for Simchas Torah and they are on their way on a Trailways bus.
The bochurim the Rebbe handpicked for this mission were Avi Baitelman, Bentzion Shafran and Shmuel Slodowitz.
“It was a 770 shocker,” recalls Fogelman’s son, Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, Director of Central Mass Chabad in Worcester. “For the 1st time in 7 generations of Chassidim coming to the Rabbeim, chasidim were being sent to another city specifically for Simchas Torah. No walking back in the middle of the Simchas Torah Farbrengen.”
Rabbi Mendel Fogelman told COLlive.com the effect of that visit in Worcester was immeasurable.
“I remember that they arrived late and Reb Yisroel Gordon hosting them in his Sukkah on Shmini Atzeres after Hakofos.
“Simchas Torah was outstanding,” he says. “I can still hear Avi Baitelman singing the Mareh Kohen tune non-stop; Bentzion Shafran’s outwardly good humor, and Shmuel Slodowitz’s day and night Farbrengens and L’Chaims.”
Fogelman remembers Fred Chanowski taking a few L’Chaims and ending up sleeping on the chairs in the shul. “Fred later ended up on Machne Yisroel Development Fund and was the successful chairman of the building campaign in Newton.”
He recalls seeing the Levines, Lisbons, Kolats , Jacobs, all children of Holocaust survivors, and Ira Lipson, all dancing. The Roths, Dickers, Rivkins, so many more “besimcha gedola.”
“The Rebbe transformed our Yeshiva/Chabad into a whirlwind of a 48-hour non-stop Simcha,” he says. “Since then, bochurim were sent to Shluchim for Simchas Torah. Reb Pinya Baumgarten came the next year. Today, hundreds and hundreds are assisting shluchim with their success in drawing the masses to Chabad on Simchas Torah.”
Worcester was the first, but the story does not end here.
When Simchas Torah that year ended, the bochurim traveled back to Crown Heights and made it in time to receive Kos Shel Bracha from the Rebbe during the Farbrengen at 770.
They prepared themselves and went up as a group, returning from their assignment, mission accomplished. The Rebbe blessed each of the three with the following brocha: ‘For going away for Simchas Torah, they should be blessed to become Chassanim that year.’
This Simchas Torah is the 50th anniversary of what special occasion.
To mark the milestone of what he called “that everlasting brocha,” Rabbi Fogelman is inviting bochurim to join Simchas Torah in Worcester this month.
“We are extending an open invitation to any bochurim that would like to help us bring Simcha to our community this Simchas Torah,” he said. “We will comfortably accommodate as many bochurim that would like to attend. Our goal is 50 bochurim in honor of 50 years.”
Transportation will be arranged to leave 770 on Hoshana Rabba morning to Worcester, with comfortable accommodations, food and “refreshments” to be provided. To join, bochurim must register by 1st day of Chol Hamoed via email to [email protected].
Hope Simchat Torah 50 years later is an even greater Simcha.
We got engaged on Channuka. We have been living down under for over 30 years, so it’s a little far to be able to join you.
Best way to have input from Shmuel is through his Tanach/ Gemara/sichot learning website: http://www.naleket.com
Man I wish I was a bochur again and can be part of this! sounds like an awesome simchas torah to be part of!
I’ve been there many times for visits. They are a warm, caring family. THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF WHO EVER GOES, and you could be sure that you will not go hungry in their town!
The community as a whole is warm and welcoming, and ready to have a good time!
p.s. I hope you are ready for those “REFRESHMENTS” 😉
Thank you for this beautiful article about these amazing bochurim – best of luck this Simchas Torah. You also just awakened so many incredible memories of the inimitable Avi Baitelman OB”M. Crown Heights was blessed to have him ‘cuz he was known for being the friendliest, most caring and giving individual. He also always brought incredible joy and spirit to every wedding he attended.
I remember Avi Baitelman he was such a nice man.
I’m guessing Baitelman, Shafran and Slodowitz.became chassanim in 1966, but it would be cool if it was confirmed.
Also, I’m not sure of this was part of the intention but perhaps the organizers of this 50th marker might want to hint that it’s possible that the bochurim who participate might inherit the rebbe’s brocha of chassaning (for “going away for Simchas Torah”). Maybe it can become a segula trip.
Fogelmans are #1!
I’m going just to have some of Rebbetzin Chani Fogelman’s fine cuisine
What an incredible opportunity! legend has it that those who travel to Worcester are likely to get engaged within the year
…and did all three bochurim really find their besherts within that year?