Dmei Maamad - Maamad Money

Dmei Maamad is a monetary contribution given by Chassidim for the needs of the Rebbe's household and the needs of the Chabad movement.

Foundations of the Takkanah

The giving of money from Chassidim for the maintenance of the Rebbe's household was already practiced from the early establishment of Chassidism.

The very act of giving money for the maintenance of the Rebbe's household transforms the giver into a Chassid, as the Alter Rebbe responded to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov when they met. When asked if it was true that he had 80,000 Chassidim, he replied that it was indeed possible since many of his Chassidim served as teachers and maintained charity boxes for 'Dmei Maamad,' and they educated their students to participate as well, thus these children were also considered his Chassidim. Similarly, the Rebbe encouraged Chassidim during his famous visit to Paris to connect the Jews in their surroundings with the Rebbe by influencing them to give 'Dmei Maamad,' as the Rebbe reinforced in a letter he later sent to the Mashpia Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Keselman.

During the time of the Alter Rebbe, when writing regarding Dmei Maamad to Chabad Chassidim living in the Holy Land, they connected it in letters with the etrog trade due to fear of the government.

In 5681 (1921), at the beginning of the Frierdiker Rebbe's leadership, the giving of Dmei Maamad began in an organized manner through Kupat Rabbeinu, with Rabbis Yechezkel Feigin and Elchanan Dov Marozov responsible for it. The Rebbe gave special affection to this ordinance and repeatedly urged the elder Chassidim to engage in this matter and ensure that as many Jews as possible would send 'Dmei Maamad' to the Frierdiker Rebbe, and through them, become connected to him.

In 5696 (1936), the fund was transferred to the management of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States, and in 5706 (1946), it became a separate fund under the management of Rabbi Moshe Leib Rothstein.

In 5709 (1949), Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik was appointed as the official emissary of the fund. In 5714 (1954), responsibility was transferred to Machne Israel, and from 5754 (1994), the collection was separated and transferred to Kupat Rabbeinu.

Name

In the letters of Chabad Rebbes, the Maamad is called 'Nifneh' where each letter of the word 'Maamad' is replaced by the letter that follows it.

Directives from the Rebbe

The Rebbe instructed not to be particular about from whom Dmei Maamad is received, since the Rebbe is the leader of all Israel, and noted that the collection of funds should be done respectfully, comparing this matter to the offering of first fruits. The Rebbe also instructed that the concept of Dmei Maamad should be used to bring the givers closer to the general matter of connection to the Rebbe and fulfilling his instructions.

When one of the Chassidim made a trip around the world to collect Dmei Maamad for the Rebbe, the Rebbe expressed his dissatisfaction with this to the Chassid and even commented about it in a private audience with another Chassid: "This is wild behavior."

Name

The reason why these funds are called "Maamad" is because the word "Maamad" comes from the root meaning "to stand." A person's money enables them to stand on their feet, as they can purchase their life necessities with it. Therefore, when they give this to the Rebbe, consequently all other matters are elevated. The concept of Maamad being expressed specifically through the "foot" has an additional meaning: A person has intellect and emotion - there are those who connect to the Rebbe through their intellect, and those who connect through their emotions. However, the foot represents neither intellect nor emotion, but rather symbolizes connection to the Rebbe through acceptance of his authority and self-sacrifice.

Over the years, Chassidim have called these funds by many synonymous names such as "Maamados Gelt," and others.

Nifneh

A response from the Rebbe in his holy handwriting to a 12-year-old girl in which he responds to a blessing written to him in mezuzah script. At first, the Rebbe wrote in regular script "Nifneh": Azehu PM VeGashlu (thank you for the blessing) and afterward crossed it out and wrote in mezuzah script to match the girl's writing style: "Shehaged Sach Dakid"

Nifneh is a term for "Maamad" money that originated in Russia due to concerns about the secret police.

The name Nifneh is written in the "Alef-Bet Gimmel-Dalet" code, meaning the letters Nun, Pei, Nun, Hei are the next letters in alphabetical order after the original letters Mem, Ayin, Mem, Dalet. For example, God's name written in the verse with the letters Yud, Hei, Vav, Hei becomes Chaf, Vav, Zayin, Vav. This code is called "Mezuzah script," because such encoding is found behind the mezuzah where the letters "Kuzu Bemuchsaz Kuzu" are written, which are the consecutive letters for the words "Hashem Elokeinu Hashem."

In Tanya

In Igeres Hakodesh chapter 9 we find a special expression about the priority of giving charity for the needs of the Nasi Hador (leader of the generation) even over one's wife and children: "Only that a person's wife and children take precedence over all according to Torah, except for the tzaddikim of the generation who take precedence over his children..." In one of his talks, the Rebbe explained what is the concept of 'Maamad for our Rebbes in the Holy Land' - and these are his words: "Also in Igeres Hakodesh in Tanya it speaks about Maamad for our Rebbes in the Holy Land, may it be built and established, that in truth a Rebbe - wherever he may be found externally, internally he is in the Holy Land, may it be built and established."