Public announcement:
Of the thousands who visit the Rebbe’s Shul each year, many are surprised by the sense of awe, yearning or connection that they feel.
But there’s often another part of the experience that they do not expect:
Stacks of seforim piled high with missing covers and torn pages. Overstuffed coat racks. Peeling paint. Worn and shaking benches.
“Is this really the world center of Chabad-Lubavitch?”
With hundreds davening here daily and thousands visiting each month, a new campaign invites Anash worldwide to help preserve and improve 770.
According to YY Kratz, the shul’s dynamic building manager, few people know the costs of running an international Shul—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Just reshelving Seforim every day costs about $60,000 a year,” he offers as an example. “Repairing and replacing torn Siddurim is thousands more.”
At 770for770.com, donors are encouraged to give a token amount to respect, restore and elevate what the Rebbe referred to as the “Beis Hamikdash in Exile.”
Kratz says an average year of cleaning and minor repairs such as paint touch-ups and door replacements reaches $400,000. A fraction of that is raised through the sale of seats and aliya donations.
Speaking from Los Angeles, a businessman involved in the campaign says he noticed the need after watching the live stream of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin coming home to 770.
“Here you have the greatest joy, 770 is filled with an energy like in days bygone, and behind this scene of pure beauty is a nice big crack in the wall. We can do better for our Rebbe’s shul. ‘Eyes on 770’ is an important start.”
At 770for770.com, you can be one of 770 donors in each of three essential categories:
Respect 770 – $36: Basic cleaning and reshelving Repair 770 – $50: Remove Shaimos, fix broken benches Restore 770 – $100: Touch up paint, wax and polish floor.
Those able to take a greater part in this effort, can join the drive to:
Replace – $180: Upgrade benches and dividers for daily minyanim Renovate – $770: Expand and build.
Donors of $50 and above can choose to display their dedication on sleek new screens near both the main shul entryway and the western (driveway) entryway. Options include the Hebrew date to dedicate, and a message in memory or honor.
The campaign runs from now until Rosh Hashanah, at 770for770.com. Donations may be made with US, European and Israeli credit cards as well as others.
“One donor a day, one day at a time,” Kratz says, we can rededicate ourselves to maintaining the splendor of our Rebbe’s shul.
Exactly. 770 used to be the Rebbe’s Shul, and I have warm and lovely memories of that era. But it has been hijacked. I will not set foot in there until Moshiach comes and makes it proper again.
Take down the signs Yechi signs I give 10K
ESN
Halevai 770 were one of the old Shuls in Europe that have been meticulously maintained, despite the lack of minyanim and generally non-Jewish atmosphere surrounding them. How is 770 different from any other Makom Kadosh? Whether you like what is going on or whether you don’t, no one is debating that this is the Rebbe’s Shul. It’s incumbent on all of us to maintain it.
Always a happy atmosphere
Simple and cheap solution.maybe a sign should posted advising that putting seforim back will save $60,000. Its an incentive.
Even without the k utza Bochurim (which most of them sit and learn like regular Bochurim) there are tons of orchim and groups who come for tishrei, and then for Chanukah, and pesach and shavuos… The kvutza hanhala has been a lot more on top of the conduct of their Bochurim and there hasn’t been wild incidents in a while. People who don’t come to 770, don’t blame it on them. Blame it on the fact that other shuls are more comfortable, closer, more modern or in your social groups. Or that you can’t be bothered. Beautiful fund and so… Read more »
770 needs a complete gashmius overhaul. Upstairs in the Women’s Shul thee is a need for new seating, new flooring, new painting. The ceiling tiles are missing and dirty in many places. There is a worn down smelly carpet in the third section where classes are held that should be removed immediately. The large overhead wall fans are filthy. In the Wintertime, the Shul has a moldy odor once the doors have to stay closed because of the cold. The bathroom needs updating. The washbasin outside the bathroom is disgusting. Outside on the porch, the stone tiles are dangerously uneven… Read more »
quote from the above article: “Is this really the world center of Chabad-Lubavitch?” a question that enters my mind every time i walk in to 770. coming from afar it is my opportunity to connect. i walked in there during adar this year, had just landed and tried to sit down to learn a sicha. downstairs there was a concert going on, of course all based on the directive of the rebbe to be happy in adar. but a concert? in 770? upstairs there was a video of the rebbe playing. yes it might be a positive hiskashrus for those… Read more »
Hey, they aren’t asking you to give 20k or 100k or 1m dollars. Which many would give if the Shul did not have the large problems that it does now have. They are asking for a simple thing. At the end of the day problems or not you come visit 770 either regularly. When you do, you like to know the lights will be on, the sefori. Will be away, the benches will be whole and basic maintenance will be upkept. Is it in your heart to give a measly 36-100$ to help accomplish these simple tasks understanding that fixing… Read more »
In 770. I have never been to E.Y., but 770 is the Holiest place I’ve ever been to and it would be a huge Zechus to donate to the place where I continually feel the Rebbe’s presence.
This is where It’s at!!
After 25 years let’s take down the yechi signs. When those come down, I pledge $50,000.
– Yossi
Lubavitch? a treasure? Are you serious?
770 used to be a treasure!
You know how many have not stepped foot into 770 in years?.
Shocking that you state what you did, you have no clue. There is so much wrong I am actually surprised COL posted this and happy they bringing this to the surface.
i am curious. why are they bringing a bird into teh women’s section of 770?
A woman was seen emptying pushke with a key on a fabrengen night in front of many witnesses. She put the money in her purse and said she was authorized to empty the wooden pushke. One witness told several people including those supposed to be in charge of 770 and nothing was done. I begged that at least the lock be changed and it wasnt. Also someone is taking siddurim that i marked as missing pages and put into shamos. Those same siddurim are found over and over on the shelves as the new siddurim are almost immediately stolen. I… Read more »
BS”D. When all is said and done it is still the Rebbe’s Shul and deserves our support
There is no option to give more than $100 someone needs to update it….
If people don’t want to help them don’t but don’t say things to hurt to discourage others from the mitzvah.
NOT by throwing out people that you don’t agree with, for example Farbrengens by Rabbi Harlig – RC kislev, Reb Yoel Kahn – Chai elul……… Rather by making hachdus, that 770 should be a place where everyone belongs just like the beis hamikdash.
Till that happens, how so you have the chutzpah to ask even for a single penny.
Veyehii ritzoin.. sheyebine bies hamikdash..
Unfortunately there are bullies in the women’s section too! They have completely taken over and ignore all rules in the Sul. They have been bringing a live bird into the Shul (Eastern Parkway women’s section) for over 2 months despite numerous requests for them to leave it at home. Are we even allowed to daven around a bird cage with feces inside? Where is the management in the women’s section? If anyone dares to speak up to the bullies we are terrorized. They will not allow anyone else to do miftzoyim and if we try they slander us to the… Read more »
I have stopped putting money in the shul’s Pushkas as much as I used to, as 770 was always properly air conditioned all of the summer days. Now due to whatever excuse, it isn’t. I am not the only one who has had the same reaction. Before Gimmel Tammuz they would have never dared. Also, the financial numbers they declared, do not compute. There are hundreds of people coming into 770 every day, there are large pushkas and with every person putting in a coin or a bill, the daily total, must amount to some hundreds of dollars. Multiply that… Read more »
As always, most of above comments are being very black and white style, if you want to fix anything they want it to be perfect!!!
Let’s make 770 a little better! No, we want it to be perfect, otherwise don’t do anything leave all the mess!!! is that a mature thinking??
can any one clean up the vendors mess outside 770.
you can’t move on the sidewalk without be harassed or jostled
or bumping into someone
all the issues you brought up might be true or not but it has nothing too do with helping this cause its rebbes shul and we must whatever we can to help them working on issues is a good idea but dos not contradict supporting 770 the rebbes shul
It’s so ironic to think that people pay thousands of dollars to travel to other places to visit holy places, while we have a treasure right here in crown heights. This is where the Rebbe walls, ravens, says sichos… Right here! I can’t understand how anyone can proclaim that they don’t step foot into this holy place. Deal with your issues of Emunah, but stop pulling others down with you.
tzefat yeshiva is the biggest chabad yeshiva in israel. there are many types like in any yeshiva. so maybe we need to stop this generalizing. I went to beis rivka more than 100 girls a grade. I know the girls. And there are so many types in every grade. so too here. its immature and very wrong to just generalize about a huge amount of chassidim. lets unite with ahavas yisrael!
The rebbe calls 770 “Beis Rabbeinu Shebabavel”, and the shechina doesn’t move from its place. No ifs, buts and whens. The Rebbe’s words stand true for all times. To all those commenters making excuses why not to donate, watch what you say. If you don’t want to give that’s your business with the Rebbe. But stop discouraging others!
I am a very american girl who surprisingly to me married what people call a tzefati. I didn’t think to, and probably wouldn’t even go out with one, only that in our situation many people including family members knew both of us. my husband family are very well respected shluchim. well I have something to say about tzefafim. they had many farbrengens in my house, and never did any bochur get drunk. they farbreng beautifully, and one time we didn’t have any mashke and it was still beautiful. and afterwards they clean up. everything and quickly. perhaps in honor of… Read more »
What does it mean that the money will go to new signage?
Does 770 need any more signs?!?!?
Please dedicate funds to update the women’s shul, especially the bathrooms!
It seems there is no option to fix the main issue, and reason why 770 look the way it does.
There is no option to pay to get rid of the overload, aggressive, rude, and reckless Israeli bochurim. Yes, Kevutzah is a beautiful thing. But, there are many many of these bochurim that cause isssues in 770 every single day. Most of the mess, torn seforim, broken benches etc, is because of these bochurim that come and cause Chaos. That is an issue that MUST CHANGE.
Lchaim
look at the comments here and you get a good idea of how your average lubavitcher really feels. 770 unfortunately is not a place where most of us feel at home. it was taken over by a fringe element. take back 770 for ALL lubavitchers and then i will donate there. until then i will give my tzedaka elsewhere.
As the world embraces more transparency, its time that Jewish organizations that ask for our contributions start revealing their income vs expense report.
I am sure a lot more people will give and will give a lot more money if they see clearly where their money is going.
Those comments say it all.
I bet a huge percentage of CH feels this way.
If you want to make believe it is not so, just leave this beautiful request open as is, but you and I all know what the issue really is.
Do you have any idea what you are talking about or are you just making false and misleading accusations?
What you think might be “money pouring is” just a drop in the bucket compared to what it takes to run a shul as busy and with as much going on as 770.
Management does an amazing job keeping the place well kept considering the circumstances.
BS”D BS # 5 for 40 some odd years I got an Aliya
on the Shabbos before my BD and paid $ 100, last year I come and he takes it away and gives it to a higher bidder and says I have to get the most I can for 770, so only the rich can get an Aliya there
Kol Hakovod to Kratz… But in order to ‘preserve 770’ there is a lot more then just shelving seforim and repairs.
Take down the silly signs. Stop letting random israelis run the place and do what they want.
If you accomplish this you will have everyone open there wallets for the cause.
I’ll give a fifty bucks, iy”h, just to say thank you to YY Kratz.
He works with everyone, doesn’t care about politics or pride. He simply cares for the Rebbe’s shul and the people who daven/aliya/kiddush/visit it.
Thank you!
There are piles of Seforim all over the shul let it be during the week or Friday afternoon or Sunday morning. If it is costing 60,000.00 dollars a year to reshelve the Seforim and they are paying 14.00 dollars an hour that’s 12 hours a day to reshelv Seforim. 12 hours after shabbos the Seforim from shabbos are all pulled on tables and benches. That means the Seforim are notput back on the shelves. Not for shabbos not after shabbos and not during the week. Why are we asked to give money for what is not being done? There needs… Read more »
Is 770 the headquarters of all Chabad Lubavitch or only meshichist Chabad Lubavitch?
Please convince the group who clearly says that they will continue to physically hurt those who do not say Yechi, do go to the Ohel, and represent similar views – that they discontinue their physical fight. These physically violent Bochurim and Yungeleit also say that they do not listen to the Rav Rabbi Braun and to the Tzfas Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Wilschanski. Please announce that 25 years of infighting in 770 has come to an end today at the Chai Elul Farbrengen, by inviting someone like Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, of Toras Menachem, to talk (in his mother-tongue of Hebrew)… Read more »
Once they get rid of the Tfatim and other terrorists who terrorize people in 770. Until then I daaven elsewhere and donate my money elsewhere too. No firm leadership=no $$.
–A longtime CH resident who’s pained and disgusted by what has become and allowed in 770 in the last 23 years.