Dedicated in the zechus of a refua sheleima for Dovid Chaim ben Michal Tovit, Yosef ben Freida Malka, and Yitzchok Meir ben Naomi Chaya who are in need of your tehillim! 38. As mentioned earlier, Rabbi Kagan and I worked on the college campuses with the students. It bothered us very much that we didn’t actually have a Chabad House on the campuses. We were especially upset that there was not a Chabad House in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. At that time (in the 1970’s) U of M had one of the largest Jewish student bodies in the country. There were 6,000 Jewish students out of a total of 45,000 students. Rabbi Kagan and I began badgering Rabbi Shemtov that we needed a full time Chabad presence on that campus. One time, as we were really getting on his nerves, he angrily shot back, “it’s easy for you to talk, but I’m the one who has to come up with the money for such an undertaking.” Until then, Rabbi Shemtov was the main fundraiser and Rabbi Kagan and I did no fundraising whatsoever. Being serious about the urgency of need for a Chabad House to be established on campus we both responded at once that we would be willing to help raise the required funds. Rabbi Shemtov was quite surprised at our offer. We, of course, added that he would have to train us, since we had no clue on how to raise money. Rabbi Shemtov, seeing to what extent we felt that move to put a Chabad House in Ann Arbor was urgent, agreed to putting that as a priority project. However, he wanted us to understand it wasn’t going to happen “overnight.” He explained that we all (Rabbi Kagan, Rabbi Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Polter [who helped Rabbi Shemtov raise money for Chabad] and I) would have to raise $500,000 (a large sum in those days) before we could actually purchase and open a Chabad Center on campus. He let us know that we shouldn’t expect it to happen in less than five years. Although Kagan and I were not happy about the time frame, we agreed, figuring that at least in five years there would finally be a Chabad House there. Rabbi Shemtov then put forth his vision for the fundraising campaign. Rabbi Kagan and I would be a team. We would make appointments and together visit with people who had never been affiliated with Chabad in the past, explain the necessity for a Chabad House on the campus in Ann Arbor, and make a pitch for 50 donors of $10,000 each. He made it sound so easy, that we never doubted that the immediate response would be a yes from every single one we approached. In fact, we radiated such confidence in our presentations, that for about a year we did not get even one outright rejection. Some said they'd have to think about it, some agreed to pay it out over five to ten years, some schlepped their actual help (to a much lesser amount) over a number of years, but no one seemed to have had the desire to burst our bubble for a year. In the end, the campaign was much more successful than Rabbi Shemtov had really expected. But the whole project and campaign went totally different than planned. The verbal agreement between us and Rabbi Shemtov took place shortly before Yud Shvat 5735 (1975.) In honor of the 25th year of the Rebbe’s nesius, we took a group of Chabad’s supporters to the Rebbe for Yud-Shvat. As was then the custom, the night leading into Yud-Alef Shvat, (it was a Wednesday night,) was the farbrengen, and the next night (Thursday night) was yechidus for the guests. Rabbi Shemtov asked Rabbi Groner if he could fit in our group of baalei baatim for a group yechidus. He said he couldn’t say for sure, so we should keep in touch every half hour and he’d see what he could do. Meanwhile we took the Baalei Baatim to Manhattan to a very fancy Chinese restaurant called Moshe Peking. Rabbi Shemtov had arranged for a special private room there with entertainment. There was a musician, and several former university students who were then learning in yeshiva spoke about their journey into Yiddishkeit and what Chabad had done for them. Rabbi Kagan then put forth the importance of opening a Chabad House on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. B”H, everything went off without a hitch and these supporters lauded the plan and agreed to be a part of it. It was only when we got back to Michigan that Rabbi Shemtov approached each of them individually and got their financial commitments. Right after Rabbi Kagan’s presentation at Moshe Peking, we got the go ahead from Rabbi Groner, that we had a group yechidus arranged and we should immediately return to Crown Heights. At once we got everyone into taxis and headed back to 770. We were ushered into the Rebbe’s room and the Rebbe spoke for just a few moments. Then Rabbi Shemtov mentioned that the Baalei Baatim had just agreed to work together with us to open a Chabad House on the campus in Ann Arbor. Rabbi Shemtov was purposely being vague about the planned time frame. The Rebbe thanked the baalei baatim for their commitment and said for sure the ground breaking or dedication, whichever may be the case (depending on whether we decide to build or buy,) will take place before the upcoming Pesach. Which meant, the Rebbe was giving us only two months to get it done. [Of course, before Pesach in our minds meant for Yud-Alef Nisan, and this was the night after Yud-alef Shvat.] Rabbi Shemtov’s five year plan flew right out the window. I looked at Shemtov, who was standing right next to me, and I saw him turn white, and he looked like he was about to pass out. I quickly grabbed his arm to hold him up, and truly felt sorry for him. One of the supporters who was with us was a descendent of a chossid of the Tzemach Tzedek or Rebbe Maharash. His name was Robert Ruch (a”h.) He said to the Rebbe, that if we do this for the Rebbe, we would like the Rebbe to honor us with his presence at said dedication or ground breaking. To this the Rebbe said, that for sure his body is not that important, it’s the essence that counts. So his essence will be there. Rabbi Shemtov in the interim was able to recover from the shock of what the Rebbe expected of him, and he told the Rebbe that another one of the supporters in the room, Mr. Nathan P. Rossen, was a member of the [Israeli] President’s club. This was a group of very heavy financial supporters of Israel. Once a year, the President of Israel would invite them as his personal guests to Israel and would personally give them a guided tour throughout the land. Rabbi Shemtov mentioned to the Rebbe, that the very next morning Mr. Nathan P. Rossen would be leaving from New York on this trip. The Rebbe looked at Mr. Rossen and said, “I am sure that you are well aware that Israel’s economy is heavily dependent on its export. So make sure that when you return, you export that which Israel is most famous for.” None of us, not even Rabbi Shemtov understood what the Rebbe was referring to. Mr. Ross himself, later told us, that he thought the Rebbe wanted him to bring him some kind of a gift. When the Rebbe looked around the room, he saw that none of us understood what he meant, so he looked at Mr. Rossen, smiled and said, “Israel is most famous as the “Holy Land.” Make sure when you return, to export some of that holiness with you!” It is interesting to note, that throughout the yechidus, Rabbi Shemtov spoke in Yiddish, but the Rebbe spoke only in English. I could not even detect the slightest accent. When we came out of the yechidus, I quickly grabbed Rabbi Shemtov and began to dance, but Rabbi Shemtov was not very much in a dancing mood. The group of supporters were all very special people. There was Mr. Irwin Cohn, mentioned in the previous story. Mr. Robert Ruch, who elicited from the Rebbe the wondrous commitment that his essence would be at the dedication of the Chabad House. Mr. Nathan P. Ross, Dr. Reuven Starr, mentioned in a previous story, Yeshaya Levin – a lawyer who became a total chassidishe baal tshuva and was always there to protect the backs of all the shluchim. Irwin Cohn and Shaya Levin were on the same plane the next morning back to Detroit. They sat together and at one point Mr. Cohn turned to Shaya Levin and said, “It’s a nice dream that the Rebbe had that we would dedicate a Chabad House within two months.” Shaya Levin responded, “you don’t understand. What you think was only a wishful desire of the Rebbe, was a command to Rabbi Shemtov.” Mr. Cohn gave Shaya a long penetrating look and saw that he was serious. When they landed in Detroit Airport, Mr. Cohn’s personal driver was there to pick him up. The Detroit airport is located west of Detroit and East of Ann Arbor. As his driver was about to turn east towards Detroit to take Mr. Cohn home, Mr. Cohn told him, "No, head west to Ann Arbor. The Rebbe wants a Chabad House right away, and there is very little time to get it." When Rabbi Shemtov heard about this amazing move on the part of Mr. Cohn, he immediately informed the Rebbe. The Rebbe responded by writing a long letter directly to Mr. Cohn, thanking him for his alacrity in wanting to fulfill the Rebbe’s wishes by going immediately to Ann Arbor, even before going home, in order to search for a suitable place. The Rebbe tied it in with his being a Kohein, who is blessed with an extra amount of power in order to fulfill mitzvos with speed. I believe that this beautiful and amazing letter is printed in one of the books of the Rebbe’s letters. The actual search for and purchase of the Chabad House building to be continued. To receive Rabbi Lipszyc's Story of the week via Whatsapp add the number 513-456-7595 to your phone contacts, and then send a text to with the message "Join". Support Rabbi Lipszyc's work by Donating at https://chabadcrimeaorg.clhosting.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2511910/jewish/Crisis-Relief/lang/en or sending checks to: Chabad of Crimea World Friends, 1601 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Dedicated in the zechus of a refua sheleima for Dovid Chaim ben Michal Tovit, Yosef ben Freida Malka, and Yitzchok Meir ben Naomi Chaya who are in need of your tehillim! 38. As mentioned earlier, Rabbi Kagan and I worked on the college campuses with the students. It bothered us very much that we didn’t actually have a Chabad House on the campuses. We were especially upset that there was not a Chabad House in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. At that time (in the 1970’s) U of M had one of the largest Jewish student bodies in the country. There were 6,000 Jewish students out of a total of 45,000 students. Rabbi Kagan and I began badgering Rabbi Shemtov that we needed a full time Chabad presence on that campus. One time, as we were really getting on his nerves, he angrily shot back, “it’s easy for you to talk, but I’m the one who has to come up with the money for such an undertaking.” Until then, Rabbi Shemtov was the main fundraiser and Rabbi Kagan and I did no fundraising whatsoever. Being serious about the urgency of need for a Chabad House to be established on campus we both responded at once that we would be willing to help raise the required funds. Rabbi Shemtov was quite surprised at our offer. We, of course, added that he would have to train us, since we had no clue on how to raise money. Rabbi Shemtov, seeing to what extent we felt that move to put a Chabad House in Ann Arbor was urgent, agreed to putting that as a priority project. However, he wanted us to understand it wasn’t going to happen “overnight.” He explained that we all (Rabbi Kagan, Rabbi Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Polter [who helped Rabbi Shemtov raise money for Chabad] and I) would have to raise $500,000 (a large sum in those days) before we could actually purchase and open a Chabad Center on campus. He let us know that we shouldn’t expect it to happen in less than five years. Although Kagan and I were not happy about the time frame, we agreed, figuring that at least in five years there would finally be a Chabad House there. Rabbi Shemtov then put forth his vision for the fundraising campaign. Rabbi Kagan and I would be a team. We would make appointments and together visit with people who had never been affiliated with Chabad in the past, explain the necessity for a Chabad House on the campus in Ann Arbor, and make a pitch for 50 donors of $10,000 each. He made it sound so easy, that we never doubted that the immediate response would be a yes from every single one we approached. In fact, we radiated such confidence in our presentations, that for about a year we did not get even one outright rejection. Some said they'd have to think about it, some agreed to pay it out over five to ten years, some schlepped their actual help (to a much lesser amount) over a number of years, but no one seemed to have had the desire to burst our bubble for a year. In the end, the campaign was much more successful than Rabbi Shemtov had really expected. But the whole project and campaign went totally different than planned. The verbal agreement between us and Rabbi Shemtov took place shortly before Yud Shvat 5735 (1975.) In honor of the 25th year of the Rebbe’s nesius, we took a group of Chabad’s supporters to the Rebbe for Yud-Shvat. As was then the custom, the night leading into Yud-Alef Shvat, (it was a Wednesday night,) was the farbrengen, and the next night (Thursday night) was yechidus for the guests. Rabbi Shemtov asked Rabbi Groner if he could fit in our group of baalei baatim for a group yechidus. He said he couldn’t say for sure, so we should keep in touch every half hour and he’d see what he could do. Meanwhile we took the Baalei Baatim to Manhattan to a very fancy Chinese restaurant called Moshe Peking. Rabbi Shemtov had arranged for a special private room there with entertainment. There was a musician, and several former university students who were then learning in yeshiva spoke about their journey into Yiddishkeit and what Chabad had done for them. Rabbi Kagan then put forth the importance of opening a Chabad House on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. B”H, everything went off without a hitch and these supporters lauded the plan and agreed to be a part of it. It was only when we got back to Michigan that Rabbi Shemtov approached each of them individually and got their financial commitments. Right after Rabbi Kagan’s presentation at Moshe Peking, we got the go ahead from Rabbi Groner, that we had a group yechidus arranged and we should immediately return to Crown Heights. At once we got everyone into taxis and headed back to 770. We were ushered into the Rebbe’s room and the Rebbe spoke for just a few moments. Then Rabbi Shemtov mentioned that the Baalei Baatim had just agreed to work together with us to open a Chabad House on the campus in Ann Arbor. Rabbi Shemtov was purposely being vague about the planned time frame. The Rebbe thanked the baalei baatim for their commitment and said for sure the ground breaking or dedication, whichever may be the case (depending on whether we decide to build or buy,) will take place before the upcoming Pesach. Which meant, the Rebbe was giving us only two months to get it done. [Of course, before Pesach in our minds meant for Yud-Alef Nisan, and this was the night after Yud-alef Shvat.] Rabbi Shemtov’s five year plan flew right out the window. I looked at Shemtov, who was standing right next to me, and I saw him turn white, and he looked like he was about to pass out. I quickly grabbed his arm to hold him up, and truly felt sorry for him. One of the supporters who was with us was a descendent of a chossid of the Tzemach Tzedek or Rebbe Maharash. His name was Robert Ruch (a”h.) He said to the Rebbe, that if we do this for the Rebbe, we would like the Rebbe to honor us with his presence at said dedication or ground breaking. To this the Rebbe said, that for sure his body is not that important, it’s the essence that counts. So his essence will be there. Rabbi Shemtov in the interim was able to recover from the shock of what the Rebbe expected of him, and he told the Rebbe that another one of the supporters in the room, Mr. Nathan P. Rossen, was a member of the [Israeli] President’s club. This was a group of very heavy financial supporters of Israel. Once a year, the President of Israel would invite them as his personal guests to Israel and would personally give them a guided tour throughout the land. Rabbi Shemtov mentioned to the Rebbe, that the very next morning Mr. Nathan P. Rossen would be leaving from New York on this trip. The Rebbe looked at Mr. Rossen and said, “I am sure that you are well aware that Israel’s economy is heavily dependent on its export. So make sure that when you return, you export that which Israel is most famous for.” None of us, not even Rabbi Shemtov understood what the Rebbe was referring to. Mr. Ross himself, later told us, that he thought the Rebbe wanted him to bring him some kind of a gift. When the Rebbe looked around the room, he saw that none of us understood what he meant, so he looked at Mr. Rossen, smiled and said, “Israel is most famous as the “Holy Land.” Make sure when you return, to export some of that holiness with you!” It is interesting to note, that throughout the yechidus, Rabbi Shemtov spoke in Yiddish, but the Rebbe spoke only in English. I could not even detect the slightest accent. When we came out of the yechidus, I quickly grabbed Rabbi Shemtov and began to dance, but Rabbi Shemtov was not very much in a dancing mood. The group of supporters were all very special people. There was Mr. Irwin Cohn, mentioned in the previous story. Mr. Robert Ruch, who elicited from the Rebbe the wondrous commitment that his essence would be at the dedication of the Chabad House. Mr. Nathan P. Ross, Dr. Reuven Starr, mentioned in a previous story, Yeshaya Levin – a lawyer who became a total chassidishe baal tshuva and was always there to protect the backs of all the shluchim. Irwin Cohn and Shaya Levin were on the same plane the next morning back to Detroit. They sat together and at one point Mr. Cohn turned to Shaya Levin and said, “It’s a nice dream that the Rebbe had that we would dedicate a Chabad House within two months.” Shaya Levin responded, “you don’t understand. What you think was only a wishful desire of the Rebbe, was a command to Rabbi Shemtov.” Mr. Cohn gave Shaya a long penetrating look and saw that he was serious. When they landed in Detroit Airport, Mr. Cohn’s personal driver was there to pick him up. The Detroit airport is located west of Detroit and East of Ann Arbor. As his driver was about to turn east towards Detroit to take Mr. Cohn home, Mr. Cohn told him, "No, head west to Ann Arbor. The Rebbe wants a Chabad House right away, and there is very little time to get it." When Rabbi Shemtov heard about this amazing move on the part of Mr. Cohn, he immediately informed the Rebbe. The Rebbe responded by writing a long letter directly to Mr. Cohn, thanking him for his alacrity in wanting to fulfill the Rebbe’s wishes by going immediately to Ann Arbor, even before going home, in order to search for a suitable place. The Rebbe tied it in with his being a Kohein, who is blessed with an extra amount of power in order to fulfill mitzvos with speed. I believe that this beautiful and amazing letter is printed in one of the books of the Rebbe’s letters. The actual search for and purchase of the Chabad House building to be continued. To receive Rabbi Lipszyc's Story of the week via Whatsapp add the number 513-456-7595 to your phone contacts, and then send a text to with the message "Join". Support Rabbi Lipszyc's work by Donating at https://chabadcrimeaorg.clhosting.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2511910/jewish/Crisis-Relief/lang/en or sending checks to: Chabad of Crimea World Friends, 1601 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11213
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