Menachem Mendel Futerfas: Difference between revisions

'''Rabbi Menachem Mendel Futerfas''' (also known as: Reb Mendel. 20 Tishrei 1906 - 4 Tammuz 1995) was a chossid and mekushar to our Rebbeim, a man of mesiras nefesh who established underground branches of [[Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim|Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim]] behind the Iron Curtain. From 1973, under the Rebbe's direction, he served as the head mashpia at the central Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad and as a shadar abroad to inspire spiritually and raise funds. He served as a board member of Beis Rivka and the Bucharian Yeshiva institutions in Kfar Chabad. Together with Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi and Rabbi Bentzion Vishetsky, he founded the Yiddish Cheder in Kfar Chabad.

== Early Life ==

Reb Mendel was born on 20 Tishrei 1907 in the town of Pleshnitz in White Russia, to his father Reb Menachem Mendel and his mother Maryasha Badna (who passed away on 5 Menachem Av 1958) - daughter of the Segalovitz family and her mother from the Kugel family. He was the fourth child after two daughters and one brother. His father passed away shortly before his birth during a typhus epidemic, and his mother named him after his father. Being fatherless, Reb Mendel grew up with his grandfather, the chossid Reb Chaim Futerfas in Kharkov, who was one of the shapers of his personality and from whom he received many chassidic stories. Reb Mendel spent his childhood with his grandmother Rachel Leah from Nevel, who was the niece of the famous chossid Reb Chanoch Hendel Kugel. Many stories circulate about her chassidic conduct and enhancement of mitzvos. In 1915, when her grandson turned seven, she brought him with her on her trip to the Rebbe. The pair were granted an audience with the [[The Rebbe Rashab|Rebbe Rashab]]. The Rebbe gave the young Mendel a blessing for fear of heaven and long life. From then on, their trips became a more regular practice. Almost every year, she would take him with her on her trips to the Rebbe. In Tishrei 1920, when he turned 12, was the last time he merited to be with the Rebbe Rashab.

Years later, the mashpia described his memories from those days: Every Thursday night was entirely dedicated to learning. There were students who diligently studied Gemara and others who studied Chassidus; he himself would dedicate this night to studying Gemara.

He especially loved the many farbrengens where the best mashpiim of that generation would farbreng, such as [[Reb Zalman Moshe Hitzchaki|Rabbi Zalman Moshe Hayitzchaki]], Rabbi Yitzchak Horowitz (Itche der Matmid), Rabbi Yechezkel (Chatche) Feigin, and others.

It later became clear that the person who arranged their tickets was an undercover KGB agent who informed the authorities about the nine people planning to cross the border. The police arrested them all. The detainees were transferred to the secret police headquarters in Lvov. Initially, those arrested in this operation and other detainees from that period were held at the secret police headquarters in Lvov, later some were transferred to Kharkov.

=== Siberian Exile and the Lvov Case ===

After prolonged interrogations and terrible torture, the trial began where R' Mendel was sentenced to 10 years of exile and hard labor in work camps and was exiled to Siberia.

=== From Samarkand to London ===

In 1964, he received permission to leave Russia and immigrated from Samarkand to London where his son Reb Berel Futerfas lived. Within a short time, he became one of the prominent askanim and mashpiim in the local Chabad community and was involved in establishing pure Torah educational institutions there.

== Mashpia in Tomchei Tmimim Kfar Chabad ==

On 19 Iyar 1971, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Keselman, mashpia of Tomchei Tmimim Kfar Chabad, passed away. About a month and a half later, the Rebbe's secretariat told Reb Mendel that the Rebbe was asking if he could come to 770 for 12-13 Tammuz. Reb Mendel arrived at 770 before 12-13 Tammuz, and during yechidus the Rebbe announced the proposal that he be appointed as mashpia of Tomchei Tmimim Kfar Chabad. The Rebbe instructed him to travel to Eretz Hakodesh and visit Chabad institutions and holy places, and regarding settling in Eretz Hakodesh, the Rebbe said they would discuss it the following year. As the Rebbe instructed, around 12-13 Tammuz 1972, Reb Mendel came to the Rebbe and during yechidus, the Rebbe instructed him to serve as the permanent mashpia in Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad.

With his appointment to the position in the 1973 school year, he wrote a new chapter in the history of Tomchei Tmimim yeshivos in Eretz Hakodesh. He was distinguished by his educational approach and became a revered mashpia for tmimim and Anash throughout Eretz Hakodesh. In farbrengens, he dedicated significant time to the topic of hiskashrus to the Rebbe, complete mesiras nefesh for the Rebbe, and traveling to the Rebbe - topics that were not the focus of farbrengens in Chabad yeshivos in Eretz Hakodesh. In his farbrengens, he wove stories and vivid descriptions from his time in Siberia, deriving lessons about the kochos that someone who has no choice, like a prisoner, invests, to the kochos that chassidim and tmimim must invest to fulfill the Rebbe's ratzon. His farbrengens gained a good reputation, and Anash, tmimim, and many mekuravim flocked to his farbrengens, which were usually held in the zal of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad. Even when he came to Beis Chayeinu, he would farbreng for long hours with a large crowd of tmimim.

He dedicated many hours to one-on-one conversations with tmimim to influence and elevate them spiritually.

== For the Benefit of the Community ==

In parallel with his role as a Mashpia, he continued, following the Rebbe's instructions, in his position as a Shadar (emissary fundraiser) which he would fulfill during the months of Elul - Kislev. In this capacity, he would travel to the United States for fundraising with the Shadar Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Reitzik.

He was also among those who worked extensively for the Rebbe's shluchim to the Holy Land.

Following 27 Adar and 3 Tammuz, against the backdrop of the concealment that appeared then and enveloped the Chassidic community, Reb Mendel's Chassidic personality and his firm faith and hiskashrus shone forth.

I'll translate this document while keeping Judaic terms intact and organizing it with headings.

=== Traveling to the Rebbe for Tishrei and Kvutza ===

Before Tishrei 1993, the first month of holidays after 27 Adar, Reb Mendel farbrenged with the Tmimim and Anash in the yeshiva in Kfar for about five hours, with his words being interrupted by crying and prayers that the obstacles should be removed. Along with this, he emphasized that from our side we must "make vessels" - travel to the Rebbe as we were accustomed to every year, and the "vessels" themselves will "draw down light" and hasten the Rebbe's revelation. Reb Mendel's words were written down by his student Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Ginzburg and published for all Anash in the 'Opinions' section of the Kfar Chabad weekly and stirred reactions.