The Rebbe's Visit To Paris

The Rebbe's visit to Paris was an extended stay that he made to accompany his mother, Rebbetzin Chana, on her way to the United States.

The visit lasted approximately three months, during which the Rebbe frequently held farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings) with Chabad chassidim in the city. He left a strong impression on the small Chabad community residing there and opened several channels for spreading Chassidic teachings.

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

During World War II, the borders between Russia and Poland were not well guarded, and many refugees fled from Poland deep into Russia to escape the line of fire.

Due to the great famine that prevailed in Russia during the war, hundreds of thousands of refugees perished. After the war ended, Russia sought to hide this fact and allowed Polish citizens to return to their country, deliberately turning a blind eye and enabling massive forgery of Polish identification documents. After receiving the blessing of the Previous Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), Chabad chassidim in Russia took advantage of this breach and escaped to free countries.

One of those who escaped was the Rebbe's mother, Rebbetzin Chana, who left at the last moment with forged documents from "Mume Sarah," who was among the chief organizers of the escape. She gave the Rebbetzin her own forged documents despite knowing that the KGB was pursuing her, while she herself remained in Russia where she eventually perished.

After leaving Lvov, the Rebbetzin stayed for a period in the Pocking displaced persons camp, from where she arrived in Paris in late winter 5707 (1947), and stayed with her relative, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Schneerson.

The First Meeting[edit | edit source]

Around Purim 5707, the Rebbe arrived in Paris by airplane, which was the only time the Rebbe ever traveled by plane.

The Chabad chassidim in the city wanted to honor the Rebbe by bringing him from the airport, but while waiting for his expected arrival time, they received a telegram from the Previous Rebbe stating "Blessed are you in your coming," and the chassidim understood that the Rebbe had already arrived. Indeed, minutes later the Rebbe arrived at the house where his mother was staying by taxi.

When the Rebbe arrived, the Rebbetzin had gone shopping, and the Rebbe entered the synagogue on the upper floor of Rabbi Schneerson's house to pray. Afterward, he went down to the room where his mother was staying on the second floor and met her for the first time after a twenty-year separation. They entered a side room together, and after some time, he came out to hold a farbrengen with the chassidim. During the gathering, he spoke about how Yosef had not seen his father for twenty-two years, and while speaking, he wept profusely.

Daily Schedule[edit | edit source]

The Rebbe remained in Paris for three months to accompany his mother during her recovery from the difficult times she experienced in Russia, and to arrange the legal documents for her entry to the United States.

The Rebbe himself stayed in a room at a luxurious hotel in the city center, where he spent most of the day. Rabbi Yaakov Lipskar would bring food to the Rebbe daily.

The Rebbe visited his mother twice daily and ate dinner with her in the evening. On Shabbat and holidays, he made the long journey on foot.

On Shabbat, the Rebbe prayed in the synagogue on the upper floor of Rabbi Schneerson's house. Each week, they would honor the Rebbe with an aliyah to the Torah, either the third aliyah or maftir, and he would donate 300 francs.

Special Days[edit | edit source]

Throughout the visit, the Rebbe held several farbrengens with the local Chabad community, especially on Shabbat and special days in the Jewish calendar.

The Rebbe held a farbrengen for 2nd of Nissan at Rabbi Schneerson's house, beginning with a niggun (Chassidic melody), saying it was one of the Rebbe Rashab's innovations. Like other farbrengens during that visit, it continued until dawn.

During the visit, Rebbetzin Chana revealed to the chassidim that the 11th of Nissan was the Rebbe's birthday, and the chassidim requested a farbrengen. This gathering was held on the upper floor, where the Rebbe spoke about the significance of birthdays.

The Rebbe also held a farbrengen on Pesach Sheni, though it was a brief one that ended when he needed to visit his mother in the evening as was his daily custom. On Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe held two farbrengens - one with a group of Anash who had managed to leave Russia after Pesach and were staying at the 'Prima' hotel, and another at the Pletzl synagogue where he tearfully lamented that while previous Rebbes had outstanding chassidim who were immersed in Torah study and divine service, his father-in-law had to occupy himself with teaching young children their Aleph Beis.

Pesach[edit | edit source]

For Pesach, the Rebbe asked Rabbi Lipskar to obtain grapes and make wine, rather than settling for raisin wine, while he brought matzot with him from New York.

Additionally, the Rebbe requested to buy new utensils for the holiday, a separate vessel for each food, and instructed Rabbi Lipskar to do everything himself without letting anyone help. The Rebbe personally immersed the new vessels in a mikvah.

The Pesach seders were held at Rabbi Schneerson's house, which was a large three-story building. The ground floor served as storage, the middle floor as a meeting and gathering room - where the seder was held - with a Torah library and Rabbi Schneerson's study on the side, along with study rooms and a kitchen. The top floor had two residential apartments and a synagogue.

Special Events[edit | edit source]

Although the Rebbe secluded himself in his hotel room most of the time, he responded several times to the local community's requests to speak at the Pletzl synagogue, where he had prayed during his residence in Paris from 1933-1940.

The first time he came to speak, he asked what was customarily studied in the synagogue between Mincha and Maariv prayers, and spoke for two hours on Torah law and pilpul as well as Ein Yaakov, causing great wonderment among all listeners. After Maariv prayers, the congregation requested to hear the Rebbe again, and he continued speaking about the regular lessons learned in the synagogue after Maariv, ultimately connecting all three topics together.

On another occasion, the Rebbe urged Anash to engage in spreading Judaism, and when told it was difficult, the Rebbe went out to the street, stood on a box, and waved a handkerchief until Jews gathered around him. He began speaking with them about Jewish matters, and when finished, suggested entering a nearby synagogue to pray Mincha. Many of those gathered entered with the Rebbe and prayed with tears.

Farewell Gifts[edit | edit source]

Before his departure, the Rebbe gave farewell gifts to the Schneerson and Butman families, who had hosted and served him and his mother during their three-month stay in Paris.

To Rabbi Butman, the Rebbe gave a Torah Ohr siddur with a collection of HaTamim journals and several maamarim and kuntreisim printed in Poland. To the women, the Rebbe gave an elegant set of china plates. To the child Leah Butman, he gave a stamp album. To the child Shalom Dovber Schneerson, the Rebbe gave five chumashim in one volume and four parts of Shulchan Aruch published by Chorev. To Shalom Dovber Butman, he gave the Yiddish Book of Maamarim, to Leah Cohen he gave a stamp album, to Shmuel Menachem Mendel Butman he gave a bicycle, and to Miriam Butman he gave a large dreidel.

Several Anash also received booklets and kuntreisim from the Previous Rebbe, and to Mrs. Teibl Lipskar, the Rebbe sent Likkutei Dibburim kuntreisim through her husband, and to the child Rachel Dunin, the Rebbe brought a siddur.

Farewell Farbrengen[edit | edit source]

On the last Shabbat before his departure, the Rebbe brought the Previous Rebbe's prison diary, which was typewritten on folio pages, and Anash divided the pages among themselves, each passing their page to another after finishing.

On Sunday, 20 Sivan, which was the last night before he traveled with his mother by ship, the Rebbe held a farewell farbrengen that lasted all night, over 11 hours, ending only around eight in the morning when the Rebbe danced with the children at the nearby Talmud Torah who had arrived for their new school day.

The highlight of the farbrengen was when the Rebbe began going among those present, explaining to each one the meaning of their name according to both revealed Torah and Kabbalah, and how their name matched their characteristics, personality, and their purpose in the world.

The next day, Monday 21 Sivan, the Rebbe left at 11:00 AM by train to the port, from where he sailed with his mother the Rebbetzin on the ship 'Mauritania' to the United States, arriving on 28 Sivan 5707.

Maamed Money[edit | edit source]

One of the central topics that the Rebbe raised during farbrengens and personal conversations with Anash in Paris was giving Maamed money, with the goal of connecting as many Jews as possible to the Rebbe, confident that the physical connection with the Rebbe would also awaken their spiritual connection.

The Rebbe wasn't satisfied with just raising the issue; even after arriving in the United States, he continued corresponding with Chabad chassidim in Paris and demanded they work on this matter with full energy.

As a result of these actions, there was an awakening in giving Maamed money, which spread to other communities as the chassidim who had stayed in Paris moved to permanent settlements in other communities around the world.

Redeeming Holy Objects of Our Rebbeim[edit | edit source]

During the visit, the Rebbe redeemed the table of the Rebbe Maharash that was in Paris with one of his descendants, as well as holy objects of our Rebbeim that were given to him by the chassid R' Meir Itkin from the estate of the chassid R' Chaim Keves, who sent them through him to the Previous Rebbe.

Additionally, during the visit, the Rebbe managed to obtain several pictures of the families of our Rebbeim.

Chabad Institution Branches[edit | edit source]

During the visit, the Rebbe worked to establish branches in France of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, Machne Israel, Beis Rivkah, and Kehot. Simultaneously, the Rebbe arranged for the publication of booklets about Judaism in French.

The establishment of these institutions extended to nearby countries, including Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.

Connection to the Rebbe[edit | edit source]

While the Rebbe usually conducted himself with humility, during his stay in Paris he showed special closeness with the chassidim in the local community, which allowed them to recognize somewhat the Rebbe's greatness.

This acquaintance was one of the reasons they became attached to him after the passing of the Previous Rebbe, and chose him as the successor and as the seventh generation's leader despite being the younger son-in-law.