Editing Kfar Chabad (section)

==== The Founding Concept ====
In 5704 (1944), Rabbi Eliezer Karasik, a prominent Chabad rabbi and later chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in Eretz Hakodesh, first proposed to the Rebbe Rayatz the establishment of a Chabad settlement in Eretz Hakodesh. A similar proposal was published during those years in newspapers in Eretz Hakodesh by the Chabad activist R' Eliyahu Tzvi Dunchin.

Rabbi Karasik's proposal became relevant after World War II when Chabad chassidim left Russia en masse. The heads of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, Rabbi Karasik and his brother-in-law Rabbi Moshe Gurary, traveled to the displaced persons camps in Europe to assess the situation, and from Europe they traveled to New York before Tishrei to meet with the Rebbe Rayatz. During Tishrei 5708 (1947), both had many "yechidus" sessions with the Rebbe Rayatz where they presented the plan. After them, Zalman Shazar entered for yechidus with the Rebbe Rayatz. The meeting was lengthy, and during it, the Rebbe Rayatz inquired about all possibilities for establishing a Chabad settlement in Eretz Yisroel. As a result of these conversations, the Rebbe Rayatz concluded that the proposal was serious and feasible, and informed the Chabad leaders in Eretz Hakodesh of his decision.

On 19 Kislev 5708 (1947), Shazar approached the Rebbe Rayatz, and a plan was agreed upon to establish a Chabad settlement in Eretz Hakodesh. In the following months, the War of Independence began, and the plan was postponed.

On 19 Kislev 5709 (1948), when Mr. Shazar attended a farbrengen at the Chabad synagogue on Nachalat Binyamin Street in Tel Aviv, the heads of Agudas Chassidei Chabad spoke with him about establishing the settlement and its agricultural character. Mr. Shazar suggested organizing a fundraiser in the United States to cover expenses, and also spoke about settling Chabad chassidim in a colony near Tzfat or Meron. Shazar asked whether a large group of chassidim was expected to arrive soon, as only then could they be assisted in an organized manner. Following this conversation, with Shazar's help, the heads of Agudas Chassidei Chabad met with Mr. Avraham Herzfeld and several other senior officials from the Jewish Agency and government ministries to discuss the matter. The Agudas Chassidei Chabad leaders worked under the guidance of the Rebbe Rayatz, who sent Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary (the Rebbe Rayatz's son-in-law) and Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky to assist them.

On 25 Adar, the Rebbe Rayatz gave his final approval: "As a general response to your proposal to establish a colony for refugee Anash in Eretz Hakodesh, and in response to Mr. Zalman Shazar Rubashov's letter on this matter, I hereby respond that I generally agree to this proposal for those refugee Anash who desire it."

During that time, the chassidim in Europe received various instructions from the Rebbe Rayatz regarding their future arrangements. Some were instructed to go to the United States, some to Eretz Hakodesh, and others were instructed to settle in France and other countries.

In preparation for the chassidim's aliyah to Eretz Hakodesh, the Rebbe Rayatz established a committee for refugee resettlement, composed of four members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad: Rabbi Eliezer Karasik, Rabbi Shaul Dov Ber Zislin, Rabbi Moshe Gurary, and Rabbi Pinchas Althaus. The official name of the committee was: "Office of the Rebbe Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch. Department of Refugee Aid and Resettlement. Eretz Hakodesh Branch." This committee worked for the olim and for the establishment of the "Chabad colony" through advocacy among public figures.