Editing Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Isaac Hodakov

Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Isaac Hodakov (January 12, 1902 - April 24, 1993) served as the personal secretary to both the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn) and the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn). He held leadership positions in major Chabad organizations worldwide, including Machane Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. Before the Holocaust, he managed the "Torah and Derech Eretz" educational institutions in Latvia and served as the Jewish Education Commissioner for the Latvian Ministry of Education. In October 1970, the Rebbe appointed him as the spiritual "owner" of Latvia.

= Early Life and Education =
Born on January 12, 1902 in Beshenkovitz, Belarus to his father Rabbi Shalom Yisrael, a Chabad Chassid, and his mother Chava Treina. At age two, his family moved to Riga, Latvia, where he initially attended a local Jewish school. According to some accounts, at age 10 he began studying at a prestigious private yeshiva in Riga. Another version states that at age 16 he was a high school student who notably maintained his beard.

During his youth, he began spreading Torah and Judaism through Jewish education in Latvia. Reb Mordechai Dubin encouraged him to use his excellent talents for educating Jewish children.

= Distinguished Scholar =
Despite attending secular high school and only studying Torah in evening classes at "Tiferes Bochurim," he managed to acquire extensive Torah knowledge and became a distinguished scholar. He was also known for his refined character, never speaking ill of others.

= Latvian Minister of Education =
From age 18, Rabbi Hodakov served as principal of the "Torah and Derech Eretz" school, managing it as an experienced educator. He was appointed to the city's Board of Education and served as the Jewish Education Minister of Latvia, where he encouraged teachers to advance their educational training.

= Leadership in Chabad =
In 1940, Rabbi Hodakov and his wife escaped Europe during the Holocaust when the Previous Rebbe included them in his journey to America. In the United States, he was appointed by the Previous Rebbe to direct Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, Machane Israel and Kehot Publishing House in 1942. When the Rebbe assumed leadership, Rabbi Hodakov became head of the secretariat and later chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad.

= Founding of Beis Rivkah =
In 1942, Rabbi Hodakov proposed to the Previous Rebbe to establish a Jewish neighborhood on Eastern Parkway, alongside schools for girls and kindergartens. The Rebbe approved one initiative - establishing a girls' school. This led to the founding of Beis Rivkah institutions in America, managed by Rabbi Hodakov under the leadership of both Rebbes. Following its establishment in America, they worked to establish Beis Rivkah institutions worldwide.

= The Rebbe on the Line =
There were instances when Rabbi Hodakov would call Chassidim and suddenly the Rebbe's voice would be heard - something considered rare as the Rebbe rarely spoke on the phone. The Rebbe usually spoke quietly and Rabbi Hodakov would repeat each word.

= The Rebbe's Instructions for Israel =
Rabbi Hodakov had the great privilege of being the constant connection between the Rebbe and Chabad leaders in Israel: Rabbi Efraim Wolf and Rabbi Shlomo Meidanchik. For many years, he frequently called them to relay specific instructions from the Rebbe on both private and public matters.

= Guiding Shluchim and Educators =
In the early years, there were cases where the Rebbe instructed Rabbi Hodakov to check with young married men if they were interested in becoming shluchim (emissaries) in general or for specific locations. Initially, people thought these were personal initiatives, but over time everyone knew these inquiries came from the Rebbe's direction.

= Character and Conduct =
The Rebbe would sometimes send people to him with educational questions. In 1995, a book titled "Education and the Educator" was published containing his collected educational directives.

As secretary, Rabbi Hodakov was responsible for scheduling private audiences with the Rebbe. He never shared the Rebbe's response with anyone other than the person who wrote the question, not even with their spouse.

= The Year Book =
Rabbi Hodakov initiated the publication of a Year Book in 1939. The book collected articles for youth arranged by weekly Torah portions, from the "Ha'ach" bulletin published by the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva between 1911-1914. Additional editions were published in 1942 and 1955.

= Complete Faith in the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach =
In winter 1993, he would participate in Friday night prayers in the Rebbe's minyan, and afterward join other secretaries on the balcony behind the Rebbe, notably standing out among them in singing and dancing "Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L'olam Va'ed" according to the Rebbe's tempo and encouragement.

He maintained his famous mental clarity until his final moment. Three days before his passing, he signed the salaries for kollel members under his supervision, leaving nothing unfinished. He passed away on Friday night, 3rd of Iyar 5753 (1993), at age 91, and was buried in Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, New York.

= Family =

* His wife: Rebbetzin Etel Tzerna Hodakov - passed away on 20 Sivan 5766 (2006). During her life, she translated books and educational materials. Most notably, she translated the book "Der Rebbe" - a historical account of the life and times of the Alter Rebbe - from German to Yiddish.
* His son: Rabbi Shalom Yisrael Hodakov - Crown Heights
* His daughter: Mrs. Chaya Rivka Kramer - Crown Heights

= His Books =

# Collection of Instructions from the Rebbe's Secretariat to the Ohali Yosef Yitzchak Network - Educational directives received from Rabbi Hodakov by principals and teachers of the Ohali Yosef Yitzchak Network. Edited by Rabbi Yechiel Malov.
# Education and the Educator - Collection of educational directives. Published by Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch in 1995. Compiled by Rabbi Chaim Meir Dayan of Kfar Chabad, edited by Rabbi Alter Eliyahu Friedman of Tzfat.

= Further Reading =

# Ateret Zekenim - Rabbi Hodakov's activities from Riga to New York following the instructions of Chabad Rebbes. Detailed 90-page overview - history, public service, first-time published letters and rare documents.
# Stories from the Rebbe's Room - by Menachem Zigelbaum, 2009.
# Mendi Kurtz, "Rabbi Hodakov" from an upcoming book, special edition (30 years since Rabbi Hodakov's passing), "Kfar Chabad" weekly magazine, issue 2004, Pesach 5783.
# Zusha Wolf, Yemei Temimim - Documentation of the Rebbe's instructions through Rabbi Hodakov to Rabbi Efraim Wolf.
# The Rebbe's Engine - Instructions from the Rebbe through Rabbi Hodakov to R' Shlomo Meidanchik.
# Yosef Ashkenazi, Otzar HaChassidim - Personalities and Chassidic teachings of Chabad mentors in New York, published by Chazak, 2013.
# Mendi Kurtz, "I Miss Them," revelations about Rabbi Hodakov's connection with his students from Riga, "Kfar Chabad" weekly magazine, issue 2013.
# A Chassidisher Derher magazine issue #1
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