By Sruly Meyer – COLlive
Two precious handwritten pages from Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the “Tzemach Tzedek” (1789-1866), the third Chabad Rebbe, were recently returned to the possession of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
The pages, an original Ksav Yad (handwriting), were successfully retrieved from a buyer in Russia. The purchase was made by Rabbi Moshe Orenstein, Rosh Yeshiva Chabad in Netanya, Israel.
“The Tzemach Tzedek was one of the most prolific writers among the Rebbeim, and there are still over 30,000 manuscripts that belong to the Chabad community in captivity,” said Rabbi Mendy Cunin, a Chabad Shliach in California who was involved in the efforts.
While many teachings from the Tzemach Tzedek are available today through manuscript copyists (Ksav Yad Maatik) of Chassidim and others, his original writings are rare. Due to prohibitions imposed by the Russian government at that time, conventional printing methods were impossible, and all reproductions had to be meticulously handwritten.
However, many holy writings from the Rebbeim currently remain by the Russians who are holding them illegally and in violation of the court ruling in the U.S. Federal court.
The newly recovered pages were from Ohr Hatorah on Devarim. Like similar writing, it was originally brought to the U. S. Embassy in Warsaw by the Friedeker Rebbe for safekeeping. It was taken in captivity when the Nazis looted the embassy in World War II, and now by the Russians.
The Rebbe repeatedly sought to return the books and manuscripts to Chabad’s hands. He said their natural home was the Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library, adjacent to Lubavitch World Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, NY. (Read more)
The 2 manuscripts were personally brought to the Rebbe’s room in 770 by Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Head Shliach of California, who is part of the committee the Rebbe dispatched to Russia to retrieve what some call the Schneerson Collection and Archive.
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His son, Rabbi Mendy Cunin said that an individual who played a pivotal role in the sale of the 2 manuscripts was Rabbi Shalom Ber Gansburg, the mashbak who loyally served in the Rebbe’s home in Crown Heights.
Rabbi Gansburg convinced the seller to part with the sacred pages at a discounted rate. Rabbi Gansburg’s persuasive skills were strengthened by what the Rebbe said, highlighting the gravity of holding stolen manuscripts, likening it to clutching a live bomb, Rabbi Cunin said.
“This insight resonated with the seller, leading to a discounted sale and making the retrieval possible,” he told COLlive.com.
An unexpected twist followed shortly after the sale, when the seller reported that the transaction paved the way for his most profitable deal to date. He acknowledged the positive impact of selling back the holy pages from the Tzemach Tzedek.
The committee to return the Chabad seforim has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the efforts. “The Rebbe told the Chassidim on Hei Teves 5752 about the power of charity in the process of Pidyon Shvuyim: “The very act of giving charity causes the Pidyon Shvuyim to happen!” Rabbi Cunin said.
To donate: https://chabadfsb.com
Thanks
b”h keep up the great work!
Look at todays hayom yom
I was going to say the same