The Jewish Refugee Crisis

In the aftermath of World War II the Jewish nation suffered a “Refugee Crisis” with hundreds of thousands of Jews scattered in “Displaced Persons (DP) Camps” looking to find a permanent home * The American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) stepped up to the plate to supply the physical needs of the Jews, and the Chabad movement partnered with the JDC to ensure that Jews across Europe’s camps have their religious needs met * Part One

INTRODUCTION

Over the past two years the world has been focusing on the “Refugee Crisis,” which is fueled by an ever-rising number of refugees escaping the war zones in Africa and the Middle East and looking for a better life elsewhere.

In the aftermath of World War II the Jewish nation suffered a “Refugee Crisis” with hundreds of thousands of Jews scattered in “Displaced Persons (DP) Camps” looking to find a permanent home.

The American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) stepped up to the plate to supply the physical needs of the Jews, and the Chabad movement partnered with the JDC to ensure that Jews across Europe’s camps have their religious needs met.

This year, 5777, marks the 70-year anniversary of the founding of the “European Bureau of Chabad Lubavitch” (Lishka) by the Frierdiker Rebbe, to coordinate the relief efforts to the refugees. The bureau was directed by Rabbi Binyamin Eliyahu Gorodetzky.

In honor of this momentous occasion Beis Moshiach Magazine begins a new series of documents from the JDC Archives, focusing on the work to help the refugees.

The work did not begin with the founding of the “Lishka” in 5707, rather it began two years earlier, in 5705 by the Rebbe and the Rashag, who dealt with these issues from their respective organizations: the Rebbe on behalf of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, shipping books and religious articles to Jews all across Europe, and the Rashag on behalf of Agudas Chassidei Chabad and Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch.

In 5707, after Rabbi Gorodetzky escaped from Russia and managed to come to New York, he was appointed to take over this tremendous work, which by then included not only refugees from the Nazi holocaust but also survivors of the Stalinist regime who managed to escape Russia with Polish papers.

These fascinating documents are part of the JDC Archives (which were digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

Can the JDC Help with Shipping?

On March 4 1945 [19 Adar 5705], while World War II was winding down in Europe, but the Axis have not surrendered yet, the Rebbe penned a letter to the JDC office, not asking for financial help, but just for help in shipping Tefillin, Mezuzos, Taleisim, Chuamshim and Sidurim to the new refugees in Europe:

Gentlemen:

The Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch – the central organization for Jewish education operating under the auspices of my venerable father-in-law, Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn, the Lubavitcher Rabbi שליט”א receives numerous requests from overseas, particularly the liberated areas in Europe, for various religious articles, such as Tefillin, Mezuzoth, Taleisim, prayer books, Chumashim, etc. These articles are sent by our organization free of charge. However, in view of the large numbers now urgently requested, we wish to ask you whether you would be able to offer us any assistance in the procurement of shipping apace for a sizable transport of such religious articles to the liberated areas of Europe?

Your early reply will be greatly appreciated.

Very truly yours,

Rabbi Mendel Schneerson,

Chairman, Exec. Committee

JDC: We Would Be Glad to Assist

Three days later, on March 7 1945 [22 Adar 5705], Mrs. Henrietta K. Buchman penned a letter to the Rebbe, responding on behalf of the JDC directorate:

Dear Rabbi Schneerson:

We have for acknowledgment your letter of March 4th with reference to the requests for religious articles, prayer books, etc., received by your organization from overseas communities. You state that you have been sending such articles as free contributions to the communities involved, and you ask our assistance in procuring shipping space for a sizeable transport.

Perhaps you know that the Joint Distribution Committee is currently soliciting donations of Sifre Torah and Megilloth for use in Jewish communities in the liberated areas. We have also on order a substantial quantity of Tefillin, Mezuzoth and some Sifre Torah in Palestine, which will be made available to Jewish communities in European countries as soon as they are required. We have already authorized a shipment of 1200 Mezuzoth and 300 pairs of Tefillin to France. In addition, as you may know, the French Delegation, who were in this country recently, received pledges of some 40 or 50 Sifre Torah.

You realize, of course, that the problem of securing shipping space from this country is a very difficult one. Nevertheless, we would be glad to do what we can to assist you if you would let us know specifically from what countries and communities your organization has received requests for religious articles, and the quantity you contemplate shipping in each case.

Sincerely yours,

Thousands of Books & Hundreds of Tefillin

Two weeks later, on March 21 1945 [7 Nissan 5705] the Rebbe responded:

Gentlemen:

Thank you for your letter of March 7th, content of which I have duly noted. I am gratified to know that you would be glad to do what you can to assist us in securing shipping space from this country, for the shipment of various religious articles.

We have two principal representatives in London and Paris, which serve as centers for our contact with Jewish communities in European countries. As a first shipment, we have in mind, several thousand books, including many of our publications, several hundred pairs of Tefillin, Talaisim, etc.

While appreciating your efforts in this direction, it is hardly necessary to point out that the need is so great, that every possible facility should be procured to meet the urgent demand.

We shall be glad to hear from you further in this respect.

Sincerely yours,

Rabbi Mendel Schneerson,

Chairman, Executive Committee

On March 27 1945 [13 Nissan 5705] Mrs. Buchman responded to the Rebbe:

…It is not yet clear to me to what destinations you expect to send the books and religious articles mentioned. We are, of course, fully aware of the need for these articles, but before we can do anything about securing shipping space, it is necessary to know to what countries you expect to make the shipments.

On April 9 1945 [26 Nissan 5705] Dr. Nissan Mindel responded on behalf of Merkos:

…Please be advised that we wish to ship the books and religious articles in question, to London and Paris, where we have our central representatives, and from where the articles in question could be further distributed as the need may be.

The JDC responded that they cannot help Merkos at the moment, because there is very limited space to London and Paris, and priority is being given to food and clothing. Merkos then proceeded to ship these books and items independently.

Will The JDC Pay for The Books?

During the following months, Merkos continued shipping an ever-increasing number of books and religious articles to Jews in Europe, ensuring that Jews have all their religious needs. At some point it became impossible for Merkos to shoulder the full responsibility of paying for the religious needs and paying for shipping, and the Rebbe sent the following request to the JDC, that the JDC pay for the religious articles and Merkos will take care of the shipping. This letter was written on December 10 1945 [6 Kislev 5706]:

Gentlemen:

Since the day the people in the concentration camps of the war-torn countries were freed, a steady contact was developed with them. The Jews of these countries turned to us with pleas for various kinds of Religious literature and textbooks, and especially books designed for Jewish education. From the books and brochures which are published by us, we already sent out to all our places of contact many thousands of copies, free of charge.

Our financial status, however, makes it impossible for us to supply these people with all the books which are not published by us, and obviously, we are forced to purchase same from other publishing houses and book stores. The books which I refer to are Chumoshim, Gemoras, Shulchan-Oruch, etc.

We request, therefore, that you buy through your own channels, the amount of religious books of which they are in dire need, and then turn them over to us, so that we may be able to ship same to the people of Europe.

The amount which we must have at present is:

500 Chumoshim with Rashi

200 Tanach – Neveim Reshonim (preferably with commentaries of Rashi).

50 Complete sets of Tanach

500 Tehilim (Psalms)

100 Gemoras – Baba Metziah

100 Gemoras – Baba Kamma

50 Gemoras – Baba Basreh

50 Gemoras – Kidushin

50 Gemoras – Gitin

10 Complete Shaas

200 Kitzur Shulchan-Oruch

10 Sets Complete Shulchan-Oruch

Knowing of your interest in helping our brethren in every way, materially, and spiritually, we hope that you will accept our request, and have the above ordered at once.

Assuring you of our appreciation, and with best wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours,

Rabbi Mendel Schneerson

Chairman, Exec. Committee

The JDC thanked the Rebbe for his interest in this matter, but responded that they will take care of shipping themselves, and therefore they will not help Chabad with this request. Merkos then continued with their relief work independently.

The Three Requests

During World War II, a group of Chabad Bochurim from Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch of Poland were studying in Shanghai, China, awaiting their chance to come to the United States of America.

In 1941 the Frierdiker Rebbe secured visas for nine of them to come to Montreal, Canada, and they were the backbone of the Chabad Yeshiva system in Montreal, Canada, but their friends remained in Shanghai.

In 1945, after the Nazis lost the war in Europe, the Japanese were still battling the Allied Forces in the Far East, and there was no way to contact the Bochurim in Shanghai, or bring them over.

On August 15 1945 [6 Elul 5705] Japan surrendered, thus ending World War II in the Far East, and immediately thereafter the Frierdiker Rebbe started working on bringing these Bochurim to America. The one tasked with this job was the Rashag, Rabbi Shmaryahu Gourary, who served as the Executive Director of the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch and as the first Vice President of Agudas Chassidei Chabad of the USA & Canada.

One week after the Japanese surrender, on August 23 1945 [14 Elul 5705] the Rashag sent a letter to Mr. Joseph C. Hyman, Executive Vice Chairman of the JDC, asking for three favors: (1) assistance to pay for the travel of the 29 Chabad Yeshiva Bochurim who were in Shanghai, (2) assistance with reestablishing the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshivos in Europe, and (3) a financial subsidy to the Frierdiker Rebbe to assist the refugees.

Memorandum

to Mr. Joseph C. Hyman

Executive Vice Chairman

Joint Distribution Committee

from Rabbi S. Gourary

Chairman, Executive Committee

United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth ( ULY )

Refugee Students in Shanghai

1. Presently there are 29 refugee students of the Lubavitcher Yeshivah Tomchei Tmimim of Otowck, Poland, who are now in Shanghai, China. In view of the termination of hostilities in the Far East, it is conceivable that we will establish contact with them very shortly.

We are in a position to provide the students (a list of which is herewith attached) with visas to emigrate to the United States. We seek your aid to provide the 29 students with the financial means for safe passage to this country in order that an independent fund-raising drive be avoided.

Yeshivoth and Torah Schools in Europe

2. Upon the liberation of Europe the United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth communicated with the leaders of the remnant of European Jewry and together they took counsel as to the best means of promoting the welfare of the surviving Jewish communities everywhere in Europe. The initial result of these efforts was the founding of the Lubavitcher Yeshivah in Paris, and it is planned to open additional Yeshivoth and Torah Schools in France, Belgium, Holland and other countries wherever feasible.

The ULY, a national Torah Center, whose prime aim is to disseminate Torah and Judaism by establishing Yeshivoth and Torah Schools in major cities (28 of these having been already founded since the organization of the ULY five years ago) has taken the lead in providing a sound religious training and Hebrew education to the thousands of children who clamor at its doors for traditional orthodoxy.

It is superfluous to emphasize that such an enormous enterprise is bound up with the expenditure of great sums of money. We earnestly ask you to aid us in this respect in order that the surviving remnant of Jewry may once again assume its rightful place among the flourishing communities of the world.

If our program is in agreement with the aims of the JDC we shall be pleased to inform you of the representative in Europe who is in charge of this program, and further, if the JDC will acquiesce to administer the program of Hebrew education in Europe we shall be pleased to submit a detailed budget for the operation of this undertaking.

We ask your assistance in order to avoid the organizing of an independent campaign that will duplicate the splendid work of the JDC.

Relief Work of Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn

3. Almost daily, the venerable leader of the world Agudas Chasidei Chabad and of the ULY, Rabbi Joseph I. Schneersohn is besieged with tearful letters from people in Europe – who remembering the great good the Rabbi did in Europe – now plead for his assistance in vital matters affecting their lives.

In spite of limited financial resources the Rabbi has succeeded in doing herculean work in the matter of rescue and rehabilitation work. Were it possible for the Rabbi to have additional means, he would be able to extend his aid to nearly all who plead for his assistance.

We earnestly beseech you to allocate to the Rabbi a grant in order that he be enabled to continue his humanitarian efforts in behalf of our needy brothers and sisters.

We shall be pleased to inform you of the name of our representative in charge of these affairs and who is presently in Europe.

Respectfully submitted this 23rd day of August 1945

List of Students of “Tomchei Tmimim College” now at 308 Cardinal Mercier, Shanghai, China.

Rabbi M. Ashkenazi

1. Lederhendler, Shmuel Moshe – Born 1920 in Poland

2. Gorfinkel, Abraham Yitzchak – Born 1921 in Poland

3. Bukiet, Chaim Meir – Born 1919 in Poland

4. Borenstein, Yosef – Born 1915 in Poland

5. Feder, Moshe – Born 1920 in Poland

6. Hochlerer, Shlomo – Born 1920 in Poland

7. Bronstein, Shia – Born 1919 in Poland

8. Rabinowitz, Pesach – Born 1919 in Poland

9. Raichik, Shmuel Dovid – Born 1918 in Poland

10. Luria, Mordechai – Born 1919 in Poland

11. Preger, Nochum – Born 1922 in Poland

12. Portowitz, Yosef – Born 1920 in Poland

13. Rubin, Moshe – Born 1919 in Poland

14. Chanowitz, Gershon – Born 1919 in Poland

15. Fuchs, Shmuel Hirsh – Born 1921 in Poland

16. Props, Chaim Leibush – Born 1916 in Poland

17. Rubin, Hirsch – Born 1921 in Poland

18. Rosenberg, Yisroel Dovid – Born 1919 in Poland

19. Lis, Elya Moshe – Born 1909 in Poland

20. Falman, Avraham Hersh – Born 1918 in Poland

21. Goldman, Shimon – Born 1925 in Poland

22. Bryski, Mordechai Meyer – Born 1923 in Poland

23. Deren, Chatzkel – Born 1925 in Poland

24. Sapochkinsky, Moshe – Born 1923 in Poland

25. Blatt, Pinchas Mordechai – Born 1922 in Poland

26. Zak, Chaim Hersh – Born 1921 in Poland

27. Chanowitz, Yisroel – Born 1925 in Poland

28. Chanowitz, Shmuel – Born 1917 in Poland