At the Chof Av Fabrengen in 1964, marking the 20th Yarzheit-Hilula of his father, Harav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe established a new Keren in his father’s name.
The funds were earmarked to provide free loans for teachers. Throughout the years, the purpose expanded to include funds for other financial needs as well.
When launching this fund the Rebbe explained that he was doing so with $5000 seed money received from a Jewish woman who worked as a teacher and had surprisingly received this amount in back pay.
The Rebbe expressed his appreciation by referring to her as a righteous woman who he knew to be of simple means without a savings account yet she wrote to the Rebbe that she had received this unexpectedly and had managed without it until now and will manage without it in the future and was therefore giving it to the Rebbe to do as he sees fit.
Today’s equivalent value of that money would be $49,211.13!
Since its founding the Rebbe himself would annually make an appeal encouraging those who wished to honor his father to donate to this special fund.
In a letter of the Rebbe, Motzoei Tisha B’Av 5744 (1984), the Rebbe writes: “It is my obligation and great zechus to suggest, request, etc., that everyone… donate to charity in his memory on Chof Menachem-Av.”
In the last year alone the Keren, under the auspices of Machne Israel, has facilitated numerous short term loans amounting to tens of thousands of dollars to the unsung heroes of our community — our Limudei Kodesh teachers, allowing them to cover unforeseen expenses with dignity and grace and providing them with the peace of mind to continue their vital work.
Today, on Chof Av, heed the Rebbe’s call to honor his father by donating to the fund the Rebbe established in his honor.
The Rebbe requested that everyone study from his father’s teachings on this special day. Machne Israel has published a special study guide which can be downloaded here.
