New York City

The Frierdiker Rebbe disembarking from the ship at the New York harbor, accompanied by an honor guard.

New York City is located in the state of New York in the United States, and it is the most populated city in the United States, with over 8 million residents. The city is divided into five boroughs: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island. In the Brooklyn borough, there are large and important Jewish neighborhoods.

In the Crown Heights neighborhood, in the Brooklyn borough, is the worldwide Chabad headquarters - 770.

In the Queens borough of the city is the Montefiore Cemetery where the Ohel of the Frierdiker Rebbe is located.

The city has many business and government centers. In the Manhattan borough, the international business center, among other things, houses the UN building, the United Nations Organization, and the Wall Street Stock Exchange, which is the most influential stock exchange in the world.

Chabad History of the City

Until 5690 (1930)

Already during the period of the Rebbe Maharash we find Chabad chassidim residing in the city, and synagogues following the Arizal and Alter Rebbe's nusach were abundant. Most chassidim traveled due to the financial difficulties that existed in Russia at that time.

During the period of the Frierdiker Rebbe, they united under the name "Agudas Chassidei Chabad," whose center was in New York, which managed and coordinated Chabad affairs in the United States.

Among the prominent chassidim from that period, we can mention: Rabbi Eliyahu Yachil Simpson, Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson, and many others.

5690 (1930) - The Frierdiker Rebbe Visits New York

On Wednesday, 12 Elul 5689 (1929), the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived for a visit to the United States. The Frierdiker Rebbe's ship docked in New York, where he stayed at the beginning of his visit, and from there he also traveled back on 21 Tammuz 5690 (1930).

5700 (1940) - The Center of Chabad Chassidus Moves to New York

On 9 Adar Sheni 5700 (1940), the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived in America after Europe was conquered by the Nazis. Initially, the Frierdiker Rebbe stayed at the Greystone Hotel, 212 West 91st Street in Manhattan. After that, he established the first Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in America, which was housed in the Oneg Shabbat synagogue.

Later, he moved to live in his home at 770.

On 28 Sivan 5701 (1941), the Rebbe arrived in America, and since then the work of spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus in America in general, and in New York in particular, was strengthened.

Crown Heights

Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The main street of the neighborhood, Eastern Parkway, is where 770 - the worldwide Chabad headquarters - is located.

Crown Heights was formerly one of the largest Jewish concentrations in New York. Hundreds of synagogues, yeshivas, and other Jewish institutions operated there. Many Admurim also had their courts in the neighborhood. However, in the 1960s, many African Americans began moving into the neighborhood, and as a result, most Jews left. The Rebbe established a clear position against leaving the neighborhood, and according to his instructions, Chabad chassidim remained in the neighborhood and did not leave it. Today, about twenty thousand Chabad chassidim live there. Alongside them is a population of about one hundred and fifty thousand African Americans.

The Rebbe's References

Before the mayoral elections held in 5750 (1990), some of the candidates for the position came to the Sunday dollars distribution. The Rebbe spoke with them and gave his blessing. Here is a list of things from the visit of one of the candidates, named Mr. Goldin The Rebbe pointed to a button pin that was inserted in his lapel and said, "I noticed that this..." Mr. Goldin said, "Rebbe, if I had an extra button I would bring it to the Rebbe. But I don't have an extra one..." To this the Rebbe replied: "But if you are running for mayor, you must have at least two hundred thousand of these..."

Mr. Goldin's father, who accompanied the visit, quickly removed an identical button that was pinned to his suit and said that if the Rebbe wished to receive it - he would give it. The Rebbe took the button and said with a smile: "Thank you very much. But I am not running for mayor."

In these elections, David Dinkins was elected. Mr. Dinkins also came to the Rebbe several times before the elections, and after his election he came an additional time. During the Crown Heights riots in Elul 5751 (1991), Mr. Dinkins received much criticism for not doing enough to protect the neighborhood's residents. When he came to the Rebbe for the dollars distribution, the Rebbe spoke with him about the need for protection and defense of the neighborhood.

The Peace Meeting in New York

The Rebbe explained why the peace meeting of the superpowers' leaders regarding the reduction of weapons consumption, in the spirit of the prophecy "they shall beat their swords into plowshares," took place specifically in New York.

Shluchim and Activities in the City

Throughout New York City, dozens of shluchim operate, organized under Tzach (Lubavitch Youth Organization) New York branch. A significant part of the mivtzoim activities and spreading of Chassidus in the city is organized by Tmimim (yeshiva students) who operate every Friday as part of Mivtza Tefillin, on Shabbos as part of Hakhel Kehillos, and on Wednesdays as part of Shlichus. Similarly, during holidays, hundreds of Tmimim go out for activities throughout the city.

External Links

City of the King - A video telling about the revolution of shlichus that the city is undergoing in preparation for the revelation of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach, screened at the banquet of the International Kinus Hashluchim held at Beis Chayeinu - 770, in the year 5772 (2012). Video file (link not active, 4 Sivan 5784)

Inspiring: The last mikvah that the Rebbe insisted on maintaining in the Bronx neighborhood