By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
Benjamin Glazer, president of Advertising Arts Corporation, was a supporter of Rebbe Rayatz, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, donating tremendous sums to support Jewish activities.
“In your writing, my dear friend,” the Rebbe Rayatz once wrote to him, “I feel your great spiritual pleasure and your strong will to help me in my soul-mission work. This gives me the greatest pleasure and makes it easier for me to continue [to carry] my difficult burden. . . .”
As a supporter of Chabad publishing efforts, Glazer crossed paths with the Rebbe, then called the Ramash who headed the Kehot Publications Society. He also had a budding relationship with Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary, another son-in-law, who headed the network of United Lubavitch Day Schools.
When the Rebbe Rayatz passed away in 1950, it was a blow to the Lubavitch movement, leaving it in limbo. When the Rebbe finally did accept leadership in 1951, Glazer was there to congratulate the new Lubavitcher Rebbe.
“It was with a great deal of joy that I received the official memorandum,” Glazer wrote, “of your elevation, succeeding your beloved father-in-law, Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn, of saintly memory. I feel very inadequate in trying to put into words what is in my heart. However, having the privilege of knowing you for a number of years, I know that Jewry will be the beneficiary of your great wisdom, piety, sincerity and deep compassion for all our fellow Jews.”
The Rebbe made every effort to conduct activities in a peaceful manner, and while he sent blessings to Glazer for holidays and other occasions, he did not ask for monetary help, as Glazer was a firm supporter of the day schools directed by his brother-in-law, Rabbi Gurary, and the Rebbe did not want to detract from that arrangement.
However, when it came to assisting another, the new Rebbe didn’t hesitate. Thus, the Rebbe wrote a letter on behalf of Joe Gross, a cartoonist, encouraging Glazer to meet with him.
“As the president of an advertising agency,” The Rebbe wrote, “I would appreciate if you would be good enough to invite Mr. Gross to see you at your convenience with a view to helping him obtain suitable employment.”
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