As Chassidim echo the Rebbe’s call to establish 71 mosdos for his 70th birthday in 5732 (1972) with a campaign underway to establish a staggering 1,210 new mosdos for the Rebbe’s upcoming 120th birthday, new documents have been released that shed light on the Rebbe’s deep involvement in that project.
The handwritten notes on letters sent to the Rebbe’s secretariat were made available to Vaad Or Vechom – Iggud Hashluchim —the organization spearheading the initiative—thanks to the Rebbe’s mazkir, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky and his office.
On the margins of a letter received from the Merkos branch in Minnesota, the Rebbe inquires whether the projects detailed in the letter a part of the 71 mosdos, and if so, instructs the secretariat to cover 10% of the expenses, as was the arrangement for all the 71 new mosdos.
Another letter from Eretz Yisrael was simply marked by the Rebbe with the words קרן הע”א [Foundation of the 71 mosdos], showing that it should receive funds earmarked for the new mosdos.
When Rabbi Efraim Wolff of Eretz Yisrael sent a letter about a new workshop the vocational school in Kfar Chabad was building, which would cost several thousand lira, the Rebbe wrote that if it would be completed by the next Yud Alef Nissan (5733), the he would participate in 20% of the costs—double the normal amount allocated to the new mosdos.
On a letter from Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, regional director of Merkos on the West Coast, addressed to Rabbi Hodakov and titled Shnas Hashivim [70th year] the Rebbe wrote, “Apparently part of the 71 mosdos. If so, send 10% of the expenses already incurred.
A letter from Rabbi Moshe Gurkow, longtime director of the Shaloh House in Boston, Mass., with requests pertaining to the new mosdos is marked by the Rebbe with the words למלאות הבקשות [fulfill the requests].
When a letter came from Eretz Yisrael with updates on the status of their contribution to the 71 mosdos, the Rebbe wrote [לאשר ממזכ[ירות [verify with the secretariat]. Rabbi Hodakov’s note following reads U.K. [(Y)udel Krinsky].
Shluchim, be part of the campaign to gift the Rebbe with 1,210 new mosdos and register your new mossad by clicking here.
Dem Rebbe’ns mentchin!
The Rebbe’s men.