Interview with Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deitsch, who oversees activities at the Ohel of the Alter Rebbe in Haditch, Ukraine:
There has been much growth near the Alter Rebbe’s Ohel in recent years. Has there been an increase of visitors?
Yes, with Hashem’s help, we have been able to renovate and enlarge the site for the sake of the visitors who come to pray at the sacred grave. Secondly, the flow of visitors to the gravesite has grown more than a hundred percent. I believe both happened because of the Alter Rebbe’s holiness, which rests there and through Hashem’s help.
You are running a campaign on the special day of Chai Elul…
The Rebbe of our generation writes wonderful things about the fact that the 18th of Elul can accomplish great miracles in the merit of the giving of Tzedakah.
The Rebbe writes, “It is plainly understood that giving tzedakah on the “Yom Zakai,” let alone on the leader’s birthday – when the luck of the generation grows, as the “leader is everything” – acts and brings about all continuity and effects, not only in spiritual matters but also in the physical – in children, in life and sustenance – and this is the first reason to raise funds on the 18th of Elul – which is the Alter Rebbe’s birthday.”
It is, therefore, apparent why we chose to raise donations that are entirely for the Alter Rebbe, as it is certain that anyone who gives tzedakah on this day is attracting blessings and miracles spiritually and physically.
What is the purpose of the campaign?
The site at Haditch, as I said, has constant activity and is in need of many resources. Together with the custom of davening at the grave all year round, the number of local Jews that come regularly to Haditch, which has become a warm center of Judaism for them, has grown.
Here they come to pray, to listen to Torah lessons, here they have a Mikveh for their use and here also they have the ability to have circumcisions and Bar-Mitzvahs etc.
Furthermore, around the year there are tens of seminars for local Jews and those from far away, who come for a few days where they enjoy first-class accommodations and take part in lessons and lectures. At the end of this process, many become religious and strengthen their Judaism.
Not long ago, in one of the seminars, I met a youth that was standing in a corner and crying. I came up to him, put my hand on his shoulder and asked what had happened, he told me he had heard at one of the seminars about Hashem and the holy Torah and he is crying because he has not been circumcised. The end of the story is that we gave him a Bris. There are more such stories happen every day.
These seminars cost a lot of money. However, there were always kind-hearted people through the years, especially those who came to Haditch, who donated generously for the upkeep of the place.
Unfortunately, coronavirus came along and changed everything. At this time, the site has tremendous losses without these regular donations, firstly because no Jews can come overseas and secondly because the financial situation is uncertain – which caused the donations to go down to the bare minimum. We are in need of funds for the upcoming year. This is what is behind the fundraising campaign “Tel Talpiot.”
How has the pandemic impacted you?
I mentioned that Jews from overseas are not traveling here because of the pandemic, but my eyes have beheld something incredible, that especially now there has been a mass awakening within the local Jews who are flooding the site and are coming closer to the light in these times of darkness and uncertainty, and the regular activity in Haditch is continuing full steam ahead.
VIDEO: Life in Haditch
What personally gives you the strength?
All the growth and renovation in the last years are a direct continuation of the last 200 years during which our Rebbeim worked hard and labored to build this scared site. The building of the first structure was set in motion by the Mitteler Rebbe, who wrote in one of his letters, “we have built a good wooden roof, and also a large house, and we have also made bricks to build a wall, all in his honor.”
Later on, the Rebbe Rashab made sure there was a Mikveh built on the site and that the tent over the grave was renovated. During the cursed Holocaust years, the structure was destroyed to its core, and in the year 1981, the Rebbe sent Rabbi Dovid Nachshon to rebuild the headstone.
We are another link in the chain, and this is what gives us strength. Furthermore – the elevating figure of the Alter Rebbe spreads strength and we can see his help in every step we take.
Let me tell you a story that happened 3 months ago. Because of Covid, as mentioned, donations have dwindled and there was nearly no money coming in. I needed to pay the workers’ wages and had no way to do it. I went up to the Ohel and just cried out to the Alter Rebbe.
“I can’t go on,” I said, and continues, “we have never faced this kind of situation…”
And then, I received two calls, one after the other within minutes. The calls were from people who wanted to give me a long term loan… there is no logical way to explain this except the fact that the Alter Rebbe is standing with us at all times and is helping us.
What message would you like to share with those contributing?
Apart from the immense activity at the Ohel in Haditch, which is witnessed by all who visit, there is also a very deep meaning to a donation on the 18th of Elul in honor of the Baal HaTanya.
Like I mentioned from the sayings of the Rebbe, and as he added to in his writings: “When you come to a normal person and say to him – ‘invest one dime out of your wealth and there is a chance that from this investment you will earn thousands of pieces of gold and diamonds,’ a normal person will surely give his dime and not only this, he will ask if giving a second dime can raise his chances to earn these riches. How much more so – giving tzedakah – that there is no doubt in the least that even giving a small amount receives a high reward!”
My call is everyone is to honor the Alter Rebbe on this auspicious day, join the endless activity at the scared site and the maintenance of the place in the upcoming year. I’m asking everyone to donate on the 18th of Elul 18 dollars a month for a year or choose one of the other donation plans. It will bring blessing into your household and continue salvation for all of Am Yisroel, and anyone who adds, he is rewarded more.
Donate now at www.charidy.com/hgf
