BY LEVI JACOBSON
From my earliest years my entire life is deeply bound with 770. I’ve seen the good, the better, and the ugly of 770, and throughout it all, I BH have found the ability to rise above its challenges and feel completely at home in 770. Crushed and squeezed but at home.
Thirty one years ago, the Rebbe published Kuntres Beis Rabeinu Shebibovel, in it the Rebbe teaches that 770 is Beis Rabeinu Shebibovel,[1] the place where the presence of Hashem rests since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh.
Hashem is in Golus with us and will return home with us, thus it is 770 where the Beis Hamikdosh is revealed first, and then will move to its final place.
The Rebbe called for the physical assistance and financial contributions of every single Jew in order to expand 770, similar to the law requiring every Jew to participate in the building of the Beis Hamikdosh.[2]
It is, therefore, natural that for the next thirty one years Klipa took a front seat interest in disturbing this holy task.
Instead of accomplishing our mission, many of us have fallen into one trap or another. Traps such as: which signs are okay, let’s wait for the court case to end, prikus ol from wild bochurim, changing the Rebbe’s place, insane running the asylum, the properties behind 770, embarrassment for Chabad, lack of seder by the gabboim, lack of achdus, too much Yechi.
“When one finds extraordinary difficulties or obstacles, this in itself is often a sign that the thing desired is very worthwhile.”[3]
“The excessive humility of Rabbi Zecharya ben Avkolas destroyed our Temple.”[4] The mission of our generation ושכנתי בתוכם – בתוך כל אחד ואחד – is to undo the reason for the churban – misplaced humility, when one says, “מי אני ומה אני,” I don’t matter.[5]
To turn this around, one must realize that their actions do count, and each individual has the ability to bring about the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdosh.[6]
Three years ago I started a petition[7] to expand 770, after which I managed to fall into the trap that now, I just need to wait for other things to fall in place, and when the time is right, expansion will happen and then I will get involved along with everyone else.
Thanks to a few special people, who kept on urging me to do more, I finally got the strength to move forward and do what should have been done – continue with the efforts for expansion.
I am excited to announce that a new organization with the name Expand 770 Inc. has been incorporated with the purpose of promoting and encouraging the expansion of 770.
There will be no more, “I have done what I can, I can do nothing more.”[8]
“Whoever does not merit to witness the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdosh in their time it is as if it has been destroyed in their time.”[9]
The Rebbe screamed,[10] “Imagine a Yid who in front of his very eyes sees that the Beis Hamikdosh is being destroyed, even the most cold, stone hearted person would turn over the entire world. קער א וועלט היינט!”
We can and must rise above all the traps, all the other issues that exist can be dealt with separately. Not even one day should pass that we do not expand.
Every Jew should be on board with expansion – 1. To realize the need to expand and that it’s the right thing to do now. – 2. To be inspired to get personally and financially involved with promoting and encouraging the expansion.
The website Expand770.com has been launched to help everyone find the right initiative that excites them. Join us now and take an active role physically and a supportive role financially to promote and encourage the expansion of 770.
With Hashem’s help we will surely succeed and already today on the 4th day of Chanuka we will witness the expansion of 770 and the Chanukas Habayis of the third and everlasting Beis Hamikdosh together with Moshiach Tzidkeinu now!
Happy Chanukah and with much love,
Levik Jacobson
[1] Megillah 29a.
[2] Rambam Hilchos Beis Habechira 1:12.
[3] My Story 2: Lives Changed – Rabbi Shmarya Katzen.
[4] Gittin 56a.
[5] Keser Shem Tov 145.
[6] Bosi L’gani 5720.
[7] https://chng.it/4nMH5SqqXk
[8] Igros Kodesh vol. 10 letter 3041.
[9] Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1.
[10] 12 Tammuz 5744.
What specifically are these funds to be used for?
Do you really think expanding 770 is a novel idea. Of course not!
In order to make renovations to a building the owners and occupants must be on the same page. *NOTHING* will happen until the people inside and the owners come to an understanding. What’s the alternative? Begin construction with people inside the building?
We need modern 770
What we really want is an understanding of the issue.
We want an expansion, duh!
We want to understand why it’s been impeded? Where is my donated money going? What are the actual obstacles?
The only mosad which has reshus- both legally and from the rebbe is aguch, so petitions won’t help unless the gabboim give in
You mean that if not the Gabboyim’ Aguch would have expanded 770 decades ago?
Oh really!
There was no ‘Gaboyim’ before Gimmel Tamuz and yet……
Good point.
Let’s not look for excuses for the dysfunctionality of our ‘leaders’ and our Kehilah. .
770 was never expanded because there was no real will to do so.
Look at Chabad Mosdos worldwide. Shuls, Yeshivos, and Chabad houses. One beautiful building after another.
The people of CH are waiting for the other to do something.
While this is a nice idea this seems like one man’s vision only. How about the whole community ??? Why can’t we be involved in the design. This looks too modern and far resemblance from the iconic 770 we all know.
Another thing is where is the money coming from, where will the Yeshiva learn until this is complete. What will be with TIshrei when they are in middle of renovating?
Too many unanswered questions to support your “dream.”
These are just all of the public concept drawings/renderings gathered in once place. It doesn’t mean it’s going to actually look like that lol
Another “whole community” type… Great idea! Make sure to take EVERYONE’S opinions on board, this way not only will it take 100 years, it will look terrible too!
(remember it’s not a local community building its a world HQ for international Chabad, so you need to yake their opinions on board tooo)
You realize this is an exorbitant project that the community may not be able to financially handle. Many people are already supporting their own smaller shuls.What will be if the shul ends up being a construction zone for years due to a lack of funds? Inflation,high cost of labor and waiting months for material are all things to think about. We have HUNDREDS of children roaming lefferts park in the summer because they can not afford camp is this really really a necessary project for the community to undertake ? It’s nice but not necessary in my humble opinion.
Buddy, the last issue here is money
Why cant people live and let live? Our Rebbe said after yud shevat which is printed in the Igros kodesh, a chassid said shlita about the Freierdiker Rebbe. Our Rebbe replied if he feels that way then let him (I cant remember the exact words) if people feel our Rebbe is alive – let them! If you feel otherwise, great but dont impose your beliefs on others. Respect everyone’s beliefs. Our Rebbe encouraged yechi and this is before gimmel tammuz so whoever disagrees, is disagreeing with what our Rebbe supported. As much as chitas, mivtzoyim etc… now some will say:… Read more »
This sounds like “let’s be beachdus but in my way”
Keep 770 as is. Encourage aliyah instead…
The issue is the kids are the only ones that care about yechi
The adults are still living in russia
The adults need to move with the times
The bochrim are the real ones running 770
Unfortionatly its taking alot of fighting because the rest of chabad dont really have any respect and appretaition for what the bochrim are doing
If merkos wants to make 770 into a meuseum – we wont stand for that EVER
Does anyone know what this person is trying to say? We should let Children run the world basically?
Thank you for this, it’s way past time!
Your article started out nicely by reminding us of a hora’ah of the Rebbe that we should all endeavor to fulfill. Unfortunately it then veered off into an obvious agenda which made clear that the purpose of this endeavor might not be to promote achdus and kedusha. There’s no such thing as “too much Yechi.” In this day and age there is a desperate need to be mosif chayus to the melech in all areas. Maybe your approach isn’t with flags and hachrazos and singing and dancing. That’s fine. Do you! But we could do with much less denigration of… Read more »
He was just saying different problems that people might make
Hashem should give lots of success, we desperately need to make 770 bigger, for men and women, all yeshiva’s and Shul’s all over the world expands their building when the community or yeshiva grows , this is a great time to do it , let’s all get together to help expand 770, now !!!
The title is expand 770
But from what the article says and the designs that are there to it seems more like they want to redesign and change the building completely not add more room but build a different one all together.
Do you many towns/counties/geographic regions don’t have even one synogogue?
Not even one formal estalished place for Jews to gather…even if it means just a few times a year?
You obviously didn’t look into the sources mentioned above. The Rebbe explains that 770 is the current Beis Hamikdash. The international center of Avodas Hashem, as well as a home for the chassidim.
If the White House would need renovations, you wouldn’t say that the government should first provide housing for all of America’s homeless, and only afterwards renovate the house for the president.
Money isn’t the issue
And there is no competition
Whoever wants to give all those cities money may they
in my opinion, the first one looks like buildings put up for a different faith community, I like the second one, and the third looks too futuristic, and frankly not pleasant to look at.
#1&2 are the same
You need to expand the shul area for major Yomim Tovim as all other chassidus have done and are doing. Skver is now expanding a shul to accommodated ten thousand people where up to now only five thousand. Bobov Satmar stolin are all expanding or making larger new ones. What you need in crown heights is more wedding halls. The shul 770 if expanded can leave the old structure but build alongside it a massive connection for the shul to expand to. During the week you can use dividers to make classrooms or minyan’s. Many options.
Can we start with removing the signs and deporting the tzfatim? Then we can worry about expanding.
a wise man once said
“live and let live”
Why don’t you do the plans that the Rebbe approved.
We’ve grown since then.
I feel a special Kedushah in 770. Thank you for making the Gashmius of 770 reflect the Ruchnius more. The white buildings look stunning!!
Hatzlachah Rabbah!
I’m not sure what could be more of an incentive, than that the Rebbe wanted the expansion. May you raise every last penny and may it happen soon! Maybe this
project done with Achdus, will be the last step needed before the Geulah!
Hatzlachah Rabbah!
Achdus? Just look at the comments, each side blaming the other. And the only people who can afford to donate are the ones who are making a fortune charging local residents a lot of money for rent. We all know who they are!