Today, ask any Jew what the shluchim around the world do in their communities, and they’ll naturally answer, “They establish Chabad Houses…”
But this was not always the case. The groundwork was laid over many years, and the process was a gradual one.
The first institution to be officially called by the name “Chabad House” was founded by Rabbi Shlomo Cunin at UCLA in 1969.
“Feeling quite proud and accomplished,” Rabbi Cunin recalls, “we prepared to present the Rebbe with the key to the first Chabad House. To record the occasion for posterity, Rabbi Mordechai Hodakov instructed us to bring along a photographer.
“We were ushered into the Rebbe’s room; the donor approached the Rebbe and handed him the key in a special case.
“‘This is the key to the Chabad House.’
“The Rebbe looked up and asked, ‘To which one?’
“Surprised, the donor replied, ‘Rebbe, there is only one.’
“‘Don’t be so humble,’ the Rebbe answered, ‘from here it will spread north, south, east, and west.'”
The Rebbe told Rabbi Cunin to call all similar institutions with the name Chabad House, so that it would become like Gimbels—a famous department store chain at the time. Just as when someone arrives in a new city he knows he can find Gimbels in the phone book, a Jew should know the same with Chabad Houses.
As the years went on, Chabad Houses began to spring up in cities and countries around the world. As many more shluchim took up posts over the 5730s and 5740s, the idea of a Chabad House was no longer an anomaly.
Read the full story in this month’s Derher magazine, alongside a wide variety of articles on wide-ranging subjects.
As we begin a new cycle of Tanya study on Yud-Tes Kislev, learn about the significance of the sefer that serves as the basis of all of Chassidus, as well as a timeline of the life of the one who wrote it, the Alter Rebbe.
Fascinating facts about traveling according to Chassidus, a story of the Rebbe Rashab and a missing suitcase, and so much more are waiting for you in this new edition of A Chassidisher Derher.
Read a preview of the magazine here. or subscribe for the monthly magazine.
I’m the Marvin Goldsmith in the photo with Rabbi Cunin, et. al.
I acted as the pro-bono realtor and attorney for the UCLA Chabad House. I was with Rabbi Cunin at the presentation to the Rebbe at which time the Rebbe did not accept the key saying “The doors are never to be locked.”
I wrote inaccurately in previous post. The story here show R’ Cunin opened this Chabad House in 1969, while R’ Tzik opened the Beis Chabad in 1974. Still some assert that the name “Beis Chabad” was first written in a letter to R’ Tzik. One way or another obviously these Shluchim have done incredible work in pioneering and breaking new ground for Chabad.
Rabbi Cunin is a leader that has always put the goal of the shlichus above everything else.
May the Aibishter shower him and his Rebbetzen with gezunt, abundance of gelt and may we all greet the Rebbe MHM immediately.
Amazing Rabbi Cunin what a chosid
may hashem bentch him and his family in all matters
This Picture looks like 11th Nissan 5734