Chof Menachem Av is the yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchak ז”ל.
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”. See the complete Chof Av Guide.
In the authoritative book on minhagei Chabad, Sefer Haminhagim (p. 100), it states: “The Rebbe founded Keren Levi Yitzchak on Chof Menachem Av 5724 (1964), on the occasion of the 20th yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson. The purpose of the fund is to provide assistance, primarily loans, to educational institutions al taharas hakodesh and to teachers of limudei kodesh”.
In all the years subsequent to the founding of the fund, at every Chof Av farbrengen, the Rebbe encouraged all to donate to the Keren Levi Yitzchak Fund. He would speak about the great merit of donating and would give his blessings to those who donate and then would ask that a joyous niggun be sung. The song usually sung was V’harikosi lachem bracha ad bli dai.
The Rebbe would make mention of specially prepared pieces of paper and envelopes distributed at the farbrengen for the purpose of writing the donor’s Hebrew name, and that of his mother, to be enclosed with the donation. The envelopes would be passed up to the Rebbe’s table where he would personally place them into a large bag.
At the conclusion of the farbrengen, the Rebbe would personally carry out the large bag containing the envelopes with the donations. On the day following the farbrengen the funds were deposited into the Machne Israel bank account.
See here for the recent press release on the Keren Levi Yitzchak Press Release.
Thus, an opportunity such as this to personally assist the Rebbe in honoring his father comes only once a year. So don’t delay, donate today: https://bit.ly/KerenLeviYitzchak
Once you participated in study and/or charity on Chof Av, in accordance with the Rebbe’s personal request, submit your name to be read at the Rebbe’s Ohel at: https://bit.ly/BesurosTovos
