COLlive.com and Nissan Mindel Publications present “Archive Gems”, a periodical column sharing guidance from the Rebbe and unknown details of Chabad’s history in the United States.
The material is from the archives of Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, the trusted personal secretary of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, and a renowned Chabad author of literature for young and old for close to 60 years.
Rabbi Shalom Ber Schapiro, Director of Nissan Mindel Publications, was entrusted with these treasured archives by his father-in-law, Rabbi Mindel and it is to his lasting credit that the dissemination of chassidus is thereby being strengthened.
Much of this material will be published in the forthcoming book “Chabad in America Through the Folders of Nissan Mindel,” covering Chabad’s activities in America from 1940 until 1994, as preserved by Rabbi Mindel in his folders.
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The following is a letter from the Rebbe addressed to participants of the annual Chassidic Concert in Detroit, Michigan, headed by C.E. Feinberg. It is dated Chanukah 5732 and was meant to be given “by special delivery,” as the Rebbe indicates.
The Jews who have faithfully kept Torah and Mitzvos under the most oppressive circumstances were to be honored at the concert. In the letter, the Rebbe refers to them as the Maccabees and Chashmona’im of our day and explains the struggle of the minority among the majority.
It is of special interest to see the original letter with the Rebbe’s notations – the points which the Rebbe felt were important to express in a particular way.
Included here is the original letter with the Rebbe’s handwriting and the final, typed letter that includes the Rebbe’s corrections.
