3 Handwritten Notes from the Rebbe

In answer to many inquiries about the material from the Mindel Archives which he posts every week, Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro shares the following:

There is widespread interest in Chabad in America during the early years – from as far back as the late 1930’s when the Friediker Rebbe was still in Europe until the 1950’s. Where can one find information about this time period? The Mindel Archives are an abundant source of such material.

It is Rabbi Chodakov and Rabbi Mindel who served the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe during these years – both personally chosen by the Rabbeim to conduct Chabad activities during these critical transitional founding years (and beyond). Both served in their posts with total devotion and strict confidentiality. It was during the many decades of serving the Rabbeim – both as secretary, author and emissary – that Rabbi Mindel amassed rich material reflective of his work, much of this material entrusted to him by the Rabbeim to preserve and promote.

These archives in turn were given by Rabbi Mindel to his son-in-law, Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro – so that they may be preserved and that his works may continue to be disseminated. A letter by Rabbi Mindel (#2) attests to this. In it Rabbi Mindel clearly states that all material in his possession and inquiries about the material – now and in the future – he has entrusted to his son-in-law, R’ Shalom Ber Schapiro.

The following material will give a glimpse into the way daily routine things were conducted behind the scenes in the office of the Rebbe in the early years…

THE REBBE’S HANDWRITTEN NOTES OF A FARBREINGEN – SHABBOS M’VORCHIM SIVAN 5713

In honor of Shavuos we are presenting a few pages of the Rebbe’s handwritten notes, in Hebrew, on the fabreingen he had just conducted on Shabbos M’Vorchim Sivan, 5713 (#3). The Rebbe gave these notes to Rabbi Mindel – something that he did on many occasions. Rabbi Mindel then typed a synopsis of these notes (#4) in Hebrew.

THE REBBE’S HANDWRITTEN NOTES ON A KUNTRES HE GAVE OUT
In addition to a Kuntres which the Rebbe distributed in honor of Shavuos, he had written some notes (#5) on the topics discussed there (chinuch, preparations for Shavuos, Lag B’Omer). These notes (5711?), shown here, he gave to Rabbi Mindel.

THE REBBE’S HANDWRITTEN ANSWER TO A TELEGRAM, WITH THE FRIERDIKER REBBE’S NOTATIONS

In the 1940’s the Rebbe (known as the Ramash in those years) coordinated and worked on all matters pertaining to Chabad – under the direction of his father-in-law, the Frierdiker Rebbe. Shown here is the Rebbe’s handwritten answer to a telegram regarding an urgent matter, which needed immediate attention and publicity and the involvement of Rabbonim etc. (#6). The Frierdiker Rebbe’s comments on this note are seen on the bottom and at the side.