Editing Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch (section)

== Appointments and Discussions ==

==== Will Document ====
On 17 Sivan 5748 (1988), a "will document" was written (according to the Rebbe's instructions) by Rabbis Chodakov, Nissan Mindel, and Yisroel Yitzchok Piekarski regarding the leadership of Lubavitch institutions; in the document, three were appointed to the main administration of Merkos, together and each individually: Rabbi Chodakov, Nissan Mindel, and Rabbi Sholom Mendel Simpson. The will was edited by the Rebbe, but no signed copy was found. Some claim that the Rebbe signed a copy that is not in our possession, a claim based on the testimony of Reb Nissan Mindel, as well as the testimony of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Labkowski who heard from Rabbi Yisroel Yitzchok Piekarski. This created a division among Chabad rabbis, with a committee of four rabbis including Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow, Rabbi Yitzchok Hendel, Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Hertz, and Rabbi Dovid Shochat, ruling that the will must be fulfilled and Rabbi Mindel and Rabbi Simpson should be appointed to the Merkos administration. However, most rabbis in the Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch ruled that the will has no validity since no signed copy was found [source needed].

==== Official Documents ====
In 5750 (1990), members of the three central institutions - Agudas Chassidei Chabad, Machne Israel, and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch - prepared new documents for their institutions, with new members added. These documents were approved by the Rebbe with his holy signature.

For Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, the following members were appointed: Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Chodakov, Dr. Nissan Mindel, Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik, Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetsky, Rabbi Berel Junik, Rabbi Dovid Raskin, Rabbi Sholom Mendel Simpson, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Shemtov, Rabbi Zev Yechezkel Katz, and Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Krinsky.

==== Two Centers ====
After discussions and disputes in the years 5755-5757 (1995-1997), a situation of two "centers" emerged. One, supported by (most of) the rabbis of the Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch, operated by Chaim Yehuda Krinsky, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky, and Rabbi Zalman Aharon Grossbaum. This center also included (until 5770/2010) Rabbis: Avrohom Yitzchok Shemtov, Nachman Sudak, Yisroel Deren, Sholom Dovber Levtin, Shmuel Kaplan, and Daniel Moskowitz. The second center, headed by Rabbi Sholom Mendel Simpson, was supported by the Beis Din of Crown Heights and additional rabbis.

==== Arbitration ====
Due to differences of opinion between Rabbi Chaim Yehuda Krinsky and Rabbi Yechezkel Binyomin Klein, the authorized signatories of the organization, and Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky, and other members of the legal administration, an arbitration was declared in 5770 (2010) within the framework of the Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch, in which Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib Landau, Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, and Rabbi Dovid Moshe Lieberman participated. At the center of the dispute were the documents of 5750 (1990) - whether they were only for government purposes (Rabbi Krinsky's claim) or they reflected the Rebbe's opinion (Rabbi Kotlarsky and Rabbi Shemtov's claim).

In the month of Av 5770 (2010), a temporary ruling was issued in which the title of Chairman was abolished and a temporary executive committee was appointed, consisting of Rabbi Krinsky, Rabbi Kotlarsky, and Rabbi Zalman Aharon Grossbaum.

==== After Rabbi Kotlarsky's Passing ====
At the funeral of Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Kotlarsky, who passed away on 27 Iyar 5784 (2024), his will was read, requesting that his son replace him in his position at Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch. However, the administration of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch did not respond to this request-will, and in an interview with his son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotlarsky, in Tishrei 5785 (2024), the transfer of the position from father to son was defined as: "Rabbi Menachem Mendel took upon himself the continuation of the Shlichus enterprises that his father led in 'Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch'".
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