The echoes of the explosions and the flashes of light in the nearby forest, across from the Psel River, were clearly visible from the Alter Rebbe’s grave compound in Haditch. “It’s a matter of time until the town falls to the Russians. Hurry and escape before you get caught in the crossfire,” the local security personnel told Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deutsch and his wife, and the other shluchim families who live there.
It was a difficult dilemma. On one hand, the battlefront was a mere 7 kilometers away by air. The media was reporting on the juggernaut advance of the Russian tanks, making it crystal clear how the future of the region would appear. On the other hand, how can you abandon the holy shrine of the tzadik?
In trepidation, Rabbi Deutsch consulted with his rabbi, and with a series of shluchim and senior communal workers in Ukraine and the world, and in the end, with a heavy heart, the decision was made to flee.
With tears streaming from his eyes, Rabbi Deutsch entered the shrine of our illustrious Alter Rebbe and asked for a blessing for the difficult road ahead, rife with battle scenes.
The personal prayer for himself, his family and the other Jews in the surroundings, were in his eyes nothing compared to the real purpose for which he entered the holy Ohel. “I promise that we will do everything to maintain the shrine, whether from afar or near. Whether under the Russians or under the Ukrainians, I will do everything so that Jews will keep coming here, and the entire compound will always be accessible.”
Just before the convoy of cars that rescued them set off on its journey, Rabbi Deutsch went from worker to worker and assigned each one what he had to do. Some of them were responsible for security, and others for supplying the food to be distributed to the district Jews who came to find refuge in the compound and those who hadn’t managed to come. Some would cook the warm dishes that were given out daily to the local Jews, and others were responsible for cleaning the snow, pruning the vegetation, bookkeeping, maintaining the lighting and everything else.
“You will receive your entire salary as before,” he promised them.
Indeed, all the workers, most of them non-Jews, understood the importance of their presence at the holy place, and continued to come every morning to the compound for the last six months. Each one fulfilled his duty.
Sadly, Haditch’s coffers dwindled. The hundreds of chasidim who used to come every week, some from all over Ukraine, and the rest from Israel, Europe, countries of the former Soviet Union and the USA, have stopped coming almost entirely. There is no one left to lend a hand to maintain the place.
The Haditsch coffers are empty! The Ner Tamid is still burning in the Ohel, the workers are still coming every day to maintain the Alter Rebbe’s shrine despite the war and the many hardships, but there is no one financing their salary anymore.
Dear chassidim! On 18 Elul, the birthday of the two great luminaries, the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe, let us all join together and contribute to the maintenance of the holy shrine in Haditch!!!
All our rabbis and our Nasi personally ensured the maintenance of the place so that chassidim would come to pray in Haditch ‒ even during the worst periods of communist rule. The Rebbe Rashab wrote in a special letter on Sunday, 16 Shevat 1912 to his son and heir, the Rebbe Reitz “…concerning Haditch… the holy practice… is that the Ner Tamid should always be lit with pure olive oil…. it also should never be left unguarded.”
This is the honor due the Alter Rebbe, and the honor due the Rebbe!
It is a privilege and duty!
Chassidim! Pay attention to the Rebbe’s holy words in the Hisvaadus on Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah 1988 that donating on 18 Elul, the birthday of the Alter Rebbe, will bring upon one all blessings:
“Giving charity on the ‘day of merit’, and all the more so on the birthday of our Nasi… affects and brings down the following influences… not only in spiritual matters, but also in physical matters – children, longevity, and sustenance according to their plain meaning.”
“This is also the first of the reasons for holding a charity fundraiser on 18 Elul – since it is the birthday of the Alter Rebbe.”
“And even if there was any doubt (whether giving charity in connection with this day will bring down all the influences, etc.) – imagine being told, ‘Invest one penny of your possessions, you may lose it, you may get it back, but there is a chance that you will gain a million dinars of gold and precious stones and pearls.’ No normal person would hesitate for a moment. He would certainly give the penny, and would even ask whether giving another penny would increase his chances of earning a million gold dinars and precious stones and pearls! It is all the more true with giving charity – it is obvious (without even the slightest doubt) that even a small amount bestows a great reward!”
Click here to donate and to submit names to read at the Ohel
