Editing The Rebbe Rayatz (section)

== In Poland ==
'''Extended article - Tomchei Temimim Otwock'''

After several years, the Rebbe Rayatz immigrated to Poland and began to engage in public activism for the benefit of Judaism, especially for the Jews of Russia. He raised money for them, particularly for Kimcha D'Pischa (Passover charity). He also enlisted dozens of rabbis and public figures from Europe, Eretz Yisrael, and the United States during his travels. Among the rabbis who stood by his side were Rabbi Eliezer Silver, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaCohen, Rabbi Dr. Meir Hildesheimer, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, as well as Judge Gad Frumkin, Mr. Sam Kramer, and others.

The money collected was transferred to Russia for maintaining chadarim and yeshivas, as well as for supporting rabbis-temimim who were in their towns spreading Judaism. A special department was established for building mikvaot in the Soviet Union. The Rebbe Rayatz also organized prayer gatherings and declared public fast days several times for the Jews of Russia.
[[File:קול קורא.jpg|thumb|The Rebbe Rayatz, the Chofetz Chaim and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski in a Public Call for a Worldwide Fast for the Jews of Russia.]]
The Rebbe's secretaries, Rabbi Yechezkel Feigin and Rabbi Chaim Lieberman, were the ones who coordinated the activities for the Rebbe Rayatz in Poland. When he arrived in the United States, Rabbi Israel Jacobson coordinated the fundraising efforts.

==== During World War II ====
'''Extended article - The Rescue of the Rebbe Rayatz'''

In 5699 (1939), a few days after the outbreak of World War II, the Rebbe left Otwock and returned to Warsaw, where he was forced to flee from house to house due to German bombings. After the Nazis captured Warsaw, he stayed in the home of Rabbi Yechiel Tzvi Gurary. During that time, reports were published, based on rumors, that the Nazis had captured the Rebbe Rayatz and executed him. Of course, this was a mistake, and denial notices were immediately issued to the press announcing that "His Holy Honor the Lubavitcher Rebbe Shlita is safe and well."
[[File:דירת הרבי הרייצ.jpg|thumb|The house where the Rebbe Rayatz lived in Leningrad (3rd floor)]]
Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States worked continuously in attempts to smuggle the Rebbe Rayatz out of Poland. They made contact with officials in the American government, who approached the head of German military intelligence, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, who worked toward smuggling out the Rebbe Rayatz. Despite the dangerous situation, the Rebbe Rayatz requested that twenty additional people, besides his family members, leave with him. On the 2nd of Tevet 5700 (1939) - the Rebbe Rayatz and his family were smuggled out of Poland, along with twenty people, via Berlin to Riga. After three days, on the 5th of Tevet, they arrived in Riga, and on the 24th of Adar 5700 (1940), they left Riga for Stockholm (Sweden).

On the day the Rebbe Rayatz left Riga, he wrote a general letter for Chabad Chassidim throughout Europe:<blockquote>"To our friends, Anash, in the Holy Land and in the countries of Europe, may God preserve them... By decree of Divine Providence, as it is said 'From God, a man's steps are established, and He desires his way,' I am traveling with God's help successfully with my family to the United States, may God protect it. Love and connection have no barriers or national boundaries, and this journey of mine should be seen by those attached to my heart and beloved to my soul, our friends Anash, and students of Temimim, and those who cherish Torah and observe mitzvot, may God preserve them, as if I am merely relocating from one city to another within the same country. For even as I travel, I am - with God's help and by the merit of my holy fathers and teachers of blessed memory - with you, among you, as until now in essential love that has no interruption and comes with feeling like water, face to face." — Igrot Kodesh</blockquote>On the 25th of Adar 5700 (1940), they traveled from Stockholm by train to Gothenburg, from where they sailed on the ship "Drottningholm" to the United States.