770 Eastern Parkway: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:30, 13 February 2025

770 (Official name: Agudas Chasidei Chabad World Headquarters - Ohel Yosef Yitzchak Lubavitch. Nickname: Seven Seventy) is the Rebbe's beis medrash and the global center of Chabad Chassidus and shluchim. 770 is where the Rebbe davens and farbrengs, and where the Rebbe says sichos and maamarim. The Rebbe also receives people for yechidus there and conducts the dollars distribution.

The Rebbe refers to this place as a "triple house," meaning a house where the three pillars upon which the world stands are cultivated: "A house of Torah," "A house of avodah," and "A house of gemilus chassadim." When the Frierdiker Rebbe entered the building, he established Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim there, along with the shul, and opened a gemach fund. During the chanukas habayis, he delivered a maamar beginning with Chazal's statement "The world stands on three things."

The place serves as a focal point for Chabad chassidim and Yidden from around the world throughout the year, especially during Tishrei and on dates of Chabad events. The location also serves as a tourist attraction for non-Jews. The building is located at 770 Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

History

The building was constructed in 1933 by a doctor named J. Rosenman for private residence and a medical clinic (illegal).

The building was built luxuriously, with ceramic tiles in the inner rooms imported from Italy, the upper rooms were wood-paneled, and the two front rooms on the top floor were lavishly furnished.

In the basement was a furnished room that served as Rosenman's event hall. The building had an elevator - unusual for those days according to experts, and $200,000 was invested in it.

Rosenman was arrested due to complications with the IRS, and the building was seized by Nassau Savings and Loan Association, who offered it for sale at a discounted price of $30,000.

[Rosenman later prided himself that the building became the Lubavitch center]

On Tuesday, 9th of Adar I 1940, the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived in America after leaving Nazi-occupied Europe. Upon arrival in the USA, he stayed at the Greystone Hotel in Manhattan, and the chassidim established a committee to search for a suitable location for Agudas Chasidei Chabad as a private home and beis medrash for the Rebbe, called the Committee for Building Beis Chayeinu by Agudas Chasidei Chabad.

The committee members were: Rabbi Nissan Telushkin - Honorary Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad Rabbi Chaim Shneur Zalman Kramer - Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky - Committee Chairman Rabbi Avraham DovBer Kramer - Treasurer Rabbi DovBer Chaskind - Secretary

As well as: Rabbi Shmuel Levitin Rabbi Moshe DovBer Rivkin Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kunin

Initially, Rabbis Jacobson and Kunin wanted the Rebbe to remain living in Lakewood where he first stayed upon arrival, but the Rebbe responded: "Among my people I dwell" - meaning that Lakewood was merely a tourist destination compared to New York which was an active residential area for most European immigrants.

After searching, building 770 was found on Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood and the Rebbe chose it. This area was prestigious and central, with 770 being the newest building in the center of the neighborhood. Its architectural character and structure, with decorative elements, made it stand out as a prominent building suitable to serve as the Rebbe's home, Beis Medrash, and center of Chassidus.

Most residents in the neighborhood were Conservative, and the building that today serves as Yeshivas Chovevei Torah was their center for all of America.

The Frierdiker Rebbe commented to the Tomashpol Rebbe, a neighborhood resident, before the purchase that there was potential to work with him in the neighborhood.

During the purchase proceedings, residents organized opposition to the settlement of the Rebbe and his chassidim in the neighborhood, whose character was very different from theirs, claiming it would lower property values. The petition against the purchase was nullified by a Jew who angrily tore up the petition.

For the purchase, the committee appealed to Anash in a letter requesting financial participation, and on Friday, 12 Menachem Av 1940, the building was purchased.

A large portion of the sum was given by the sons of Rabbi Moshe Eliezer Kramer, the first chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad and one of Chabad's main supporters at the time.

In mid-Menachem Av, the Rebbe came for a visit, instructed how to arrange the shul and how to affix the mezuzos, and asked to see the basement. He prayed Mincha and Maariv there, and afterward sat in the room that would later become his son-in-law the Rebbe's room and said words of blessing.

To create a prayer hall, they broke down the wall between two rooms and created what is today called the Small Zal.

On 19 Menachem Av, the Rebbe moved to live in 770, and upon entering what is now called the Small Zal, he said words of blessing.

On 21 Elul, there was a Chanukas Habayis (building dedication). The Rebbe held a farbrengen and said a maamar beginning with "Al Shlosha Devorim."

During this period, very few religious Jews lived in Crown Heights, but in 1941, hundreds of Jews came to see the Rebbe during prayer.

On the first night, the Rebbe prayed in what is now called the Small Zal, and the next day with a small minyan upstairs.

Initially, prayers were held only on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Later, the Agudas Chassidei Chabad office manager, Rabbi Dovid Shifrin, suggested moving the yeshiva there, and immediately after the holidays, the yeshiva moved to 770.

In a letter dated 19 Marcheshvan to his mother, the Rebbe wrote that they paid $5,000 in cash and another $25,000 in a twenty-year loan with payments of $1,350 per year. Renovations cost $2,000, totaling $7,000 - $5,000 was raised by chassidim and $2,000 was borrowed.

Due to the difficult situation, they couldn't meet the payments, and only in 1950 was the payment completed by a donor named Mr. Joseph Robinson.

From the day of entering 770, the "Lubavitch Court" moved, as part of the "ten exiles that Lubavitch was exiled" to its permanent location, from which it will move to the Holy Land with the coming of Moshiach, as per the Rebbe's words.

The building's size was sufficient at that time for all the needs of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States and even for the Frierdiker Rebbe's private needs.

The Building's Structure at Purchase

The building at the time of purchase included three floors and parking:

First Floor - Beis Medrash for the chassidim Second Floor - Living quarters for the Frierdiker Rebbe and his family Third Floor - Living quarters for the Frierdiker Rebbe's first son-in-law, Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary and his family

Besides building a sukkah balcony in the Frierdiker Rebbe's apartment on the second floor - so he wouldn't have to go downstairs on Sukkos to eat in the sukkah - no changes were made to the building. Over the years, the need for additional space grew, and accordingly, additional adjacent buildings were purchased and significant renovations were made to the parking area and building basement.

The House Number

The Rebbe explained that the house number 770 shows through Hashgacha Pratis (Divine Providence) the significance, merit, and essence of the place. He explained various hints that can be learned from the number 770 in serving Hashem, including that 770 equals "Ufaratzta" in gematria. This means that from this building, Chabad chassidim "break through" to the entire world to spread the light of Yiddishkeit. The Rebbe also explained the hint that the number "770" equals "Beis Moshiach" in gematria, among other meanings.

Additionally, the Rebbe stated that in the true and complete Geulah, when the Third Beis Hamikdash will be revealed, it will first be revealed in "770" - "Beis Rabbeinu SheBeBavel," and from there both will be transferred to the place of the Mikdash in Yerushalayim.

Ground Floor

The ground floor of 770 was designed to be the office floor and main shul of Chabad Chassidus.

This floor also contains 'Gan Eden HaTachton', which served as an entrance corridor to Gan Eden HaElyon, the Rebbe's room.

The Rebbe's room initially served as the Frierdiker Rebbe's room. When the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived at 770, the room became their living quarters. After they moved to an apartment on Brooklyn Avenue and later to a house at 1304 President Street, the room became the Rebbe's personal room where he received people for yechidus.

On the first floor is the 'Small Zal', which served as the shul until the construction of the Large Zal in the basement.

This floor also contains the mazkirus office, which served as the center for the Rebbe's secretariat activities, and offices of other chassidim, including Rav Shmuel Levitin, Rav Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov, the broadcast room, and more.

Second Floor

The second floor was designated from 1940 as the Frierdiker Rebbe's living quarters. Due to his health condition, he davened, held farbrengens, and received people for yechidus there.

Until 2017, access was available to workers of the Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library, and tours were occasionally organized, especially during visitor seasons such as Tishrei and Yud Shevat.

On this floor, only maintenance work is carried out, without changes to the rooms and walls of the building. The Rebbe's apartment remains in its original form, as it was before Yud Shevat 1950, the time of the Frierdiker Rebbe's histalkus.

Third Floor

The library's display hall on the third floor includes:

Yeshiva offices
Bathroom, bath, and shower
Rabbi Shmuel Gurary's office
Closet rooms
Living room
Bathroom
Rabbi Gurary's bedroom
Balcony (after 27 Adar 1992, the Rebbe went up there several times for Kiddush Levana)
Bathroom
Guest bedroom
Kitchen
External stairs
Elevator
Internal stairs
Bridge between 770 and the Lubavitch Library (built in 1993)

The third floor served as Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary's apartment, where he had his personal office and the offices of Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva under his management. After his passing, the floor was transferred to the Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library, which unified most of the rooms (rooms 7-6-5-4-3 on the map) into a display hall, according to the library's needs.

This floor also contains a room for "Machon Otzar HaChassidim," where they prepare Chabad Rebbes' writings for publication.

The Main Synagogue

In around 5714 (1954), due to the increasing number of participants in the Rebbe's tefillos and farbrengens, the "Small Zal" on the first floor could no longer contain all the people. They began using the "Shalash," which was larger than the "Small Zal," for farbrengens and Yomim Noraim tefillos. The major farbrengens of Yud Tes Kislev, Yud Shevat, and Purim were held in other larger halls in the Crown Heights area.

Over the years, as the number of participants grew, there was an increasing need to expand the space. The shul was expanded toward the adjacent building at 784-788 Eastern Parkway, as well as toward Union Street.

Sifrei Torah in the Shul

There are many Sifrei Torah in the Rebbe's shul - 770. Some of these scrolls are associated with interesting events or special history, including the Sefer Torah for Kabbalas Pnei Moshiach Tzidkeinu and the Rebbe's Sefer Torah.

Management of the Shul

The shul is managed by gabbaim elected by the community. The gabbaim are responsible for maintaining the place and managing the tefillos. The gabbaim are subject to the authority of the neighborhood rabbanim.

The Rebbe gave special respect to the gabbaim, and frequently mentioned their role in managing the shul by changing the order of requesting their permission, listening to their announcements, saying "Gut Shabbos" to them on Friday night, paying for aliyos when needed, and many other acknowledgments expressing their responsibility for managing the shul.

Davening in 770

One of the main aspects of 770 as the center of Chabad Chassidus is davening and avodas hatefillah. It is said that when the Frierdiker Rebbe first entered the 770 building, he first went to the area designated for the shul and said that he was dedicating this place for "tefillah from within pnimiyus."

The davening in 770 is done at maximum speed so as not to waste the Rebbe's precious time.

Chomas Anash

'Chomas Anash' was a fundraising project that operated in 5753 (1993) with the goal of expanding 770, in accordance with the Rebbe's instruction in Kuntres Beis Rabbeinu SheBeBavel. As part of this initiative, each Anash family was asked to donate an equal amount of 770 dollars, with their names to be engraved on a special wall in the renovated building. The project was halted on Gimmel Tammuz 5754 (1994).

Vaad Seudas Shlomo

'Vaad Seudas Shlomo' is an organization that prepares food for 770 visitors. Located in a room under the women's section on Eastern Parkway, it provides food and drink to 770 visitors on weekdays (coffee, tea, and mezonos) and on Shabbos and Yom Tov (challos, wine, and cholent). It also provides meals after fasts and hosts certain farbrengens in the shul.

The Central Farbrengens in 770

Most of the Rebbe's farbrengens were held in 770, initially in the Small Zal and later in the Shalash and the main shul.

The central farbrengens in 770 are held on Chabad commemorative days and on days when there is a special instruction to farbreng, such as after Yom Tov. These are usually organized by the 770 gabbaim.

Tishrei

Approaching the month of Tishrei, Chabad chassidim and Temimim students from around the world stream to 770 and stay there throughout the days of Tishrei.

The prayer schedules, learning sessions, and farbrengens are adapted for the holidays. The gabbaim, together with the yeshiva administrations and Eshel Hachnosas Orchim, organize learning schedules for the guests according to the Rebbe's instructions, farbrengens with mashpiim, and welcome and farewell events.

Tomchei Temimim Central

The first Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in the United States was founded on 9 Adar Sheni 1940, the day the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived in the United States. For about nine months, classes were held in one of the Chabad synagogues in Brooklyn, and in the month of Cheshvan 1941, the yeshiva moved to the new building - 770 Eastern Parkway, where it remains until this very day.

The Rebbe's Relationship with 770

On 20 Cheshvan 1992, the Rebbe published a kuntres titled "Beis Rabbeinu SheBebavel." In this special kuntres, the elevated status of 770 is extensively explained as being "Beis Rabbeinu SheBebavel" - the place of the Nasi HaDor, where the Shechinah resides during galus. Additionally, in the kuntres, the Rebbe reveals that the Beis HaMikdash will first descend from heaven at 770 and only afterward will travel with it to Jerusalem, the holy city.

The publication of the kuntres created significant waves within Chabad chassidus, as it contained matters written and edited by the Rebbe that no one imagined the Rebbe himself would agree to publish.

Since the publication of the kuntres, the Rebbe kept it consistently in his siddur (which was extremely rare regarding other kuntresim).

Names Given by the Rebbe

Beis Agudas Chassidei Chabad - Ohel Yosef Yitzchak - Appears above the main entrance to the building and was inscribed at the Rebbe's instruction after the seforim case.
Beis Rabbeinu SheBebavel - Named after the kuntres published by the Rebbe explaining the special merit of the main beis medrash in each generation, similar to the Amoraim's synagogue in Bavel.
770 - The common name in Chabad vernacular and appears in the Rebbe's sichos.
Beis Moshiach - Equals in gematria the building number - "770".
Beis Chayeinu - As it is the source of life for Chabad chassidim.
Daled Amos of Nesi Doreinu - As it is the fixed place of the Nasi HaDor.
Bayis Meshulash - As three types of activities take place there: Torah, tefillah, and tzedakah.

Bedek Habayis

Extended Article - 770 Expansions Extended Article - Bedek Habayis (770)

'Bedek Habayis' is the name of an organization established at the request of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka in 1979, with the responsibility of maintaining the 770 building, specifically the original building purchased in 1940.

Replicas

Extended Article - 770 Kfar Chabad

On the 15th of Tammuz 1985, the Rebbe requested to build an exact replica of 770 in Kfar Chabad - construction was completed on the 15th of Tammuz 1986. Following this, a trend began of building 770 replicas around the world: even before this, there was a replica in Milan.

Eretz Yisroel

Kfar Chabad - Built in 1986, at the Rebbe's request.
Ramat Shlomo, Jerusalem - Built in 2003, by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Havlin.
Zichron Yaakov - Built by Shliach Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Freiman.
Kiryat Ata - Built by Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Diskin.
Migdal HaEmek - Built by Chabad institutions in Migdal HaEmek.
Itamar in the Shomron - Private home of the Nuama family.
Gedera - Private home of Rabbi Nes Carmon.
Kiryat Arba - Built by Shliach Rabbi Victor Attia.
Pisgat Zeev, Jerusalem - Built by Shliach Rabbi Yitzchak Kurtz.
Afula - Beit Gabi V'Rivki - Built by Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg.
Mitzpe Ramon - Built by Shliach Rabbi Tzvi Slonim.
Kfar Tapuach - Private home.
Kiryat Gat - Shaarei Geulah Synagogue.
Rishon LeTzion - Built by Shliach Rabbi Segal.
Beit Shean - Opened in 2018, named after Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Shmulevitz.
Beitar - Built by Rabbi Yaakov Schnur.
Sderot - Built by Shliach Rabbi Moshe Zeev Pizem.

Buildings Under Construction

Ofakim - Built by the Shliach, Rabbi Hershkowitz
Shlomi, Northern Eretz HaKodesh - To be built by Shliach Rabbi Benny Nachum
Neurim Neighborhood, Rishon LeZion - To be built by Shliach Rabbi Eli Segal
Yavniel
Elad - Beis Menachem Synagogue
Chadera - To be built by Shliach Rabbi Shaul Axelrod in Givat Olga neighborhood
Charish
Kiryat Malachi - In Nachalat Menachem neighborhood, built by R' Mendy Lerner
Beit Shemesh Rama Alef - Built by Rabbi Michael Abishid

Throughout the World

Los Angeles, California - Central Chabad House built in 1982
Los Angeles, California - Girls' School. Built in 2003
Milan, Italy - Built by Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik
Melbourne, Australia - Built by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Gutnick
Rutgers University, New Jersey, United States - Chabad House, built by Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Carlebach
Ocean, New Jersey, United States - Chabad Synagogue, built by Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Carlebach
Cleveland, Ohio - Chabad House, built by Rabbi Leibel Alevsky
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Central Chabad House. Built by Rabbi Shabtai Alperin
Kamenskoe, Ukraine - Built by Shliach Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Stambler
Ramenskaya, Moscow - Built by Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan
Buenos Aires, Argentina - Built by Shliach Rabbi Plotka
Haditch, Ukraine - Near the tziyun of the Alter Rebbe
Santiago, Chile - Built by Shliach Rabbi Perman
Camp Gan Israel Montreal summer camp
Tacoma, Washington - Built by Shliach Rabbi Zalman Heber in 2012
Dharamkot, North India - Built by Shliach Dror Shaul
Queens, New York - Under construction by Shliach Rabbi Shraga Zalmanov
Manila, Philippines - Built by Shliach Rabbi Yossi Levy
Crown Heights, Brooklyn - Synagogue on Lefferts Avenue
Romainville, Paris, France - Chabad House
St. Brice sous Foret, France - Chabad House
Sarcennes, France - Chabad House
Baltimore, Maryland - Yeshivas Lubavitch
El Paso, Texas - Chabad House
Cincinnati, Ohio - Yeshivas Lubavitch
Pucon, Chile - Chabad House