Introduction
In May of 1930, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (also known as the Previous Rebbe), of righteous memory, spent ten days in St. Louis, Missouri, as part of an eight-month visit to the United States.
This historic visit took place in the wake of the Rebbe’s high profile imprisonment and subsequent exile from Soviet Russia in 1927. These events had turned the Rebbe into an international symbol of Jewish fortitude and resilience in the face of the Soviets’ attempts to forcefully suppress and eradicate Jewish religious life, learning and practice. At the time, the “Jews of Silence” in Russia were effectively cut off from the rest of the Jewish world, and their co-religionists in the United States were anxious, in the Rebbe’s words, “to receive regards from the suffering House of Israel” who remained in the darkness and oppression of Stalin’s USSR.
The Rebbe arrived in New York Harbor on September 18, 1929. During the next eight months, he traveled to a number of American cities, including Philadelphia; Baltimore; Boston; Washington, D.C. (where he met with President Herbert Hoover); Milwaukee; Chicago and Detroit. On Sunday, May 4, 1930, the Rebbe arrived in St. Louis. Ten days later, on Tuesday, May 13, 1930, he departed for New York on his way back to Europe.
The visit to St. Louis received front-page coverage in the St. Louis Yiddish weekly, The Jewish Record. In addition to the detailed information on the Rebbe’s visit, the Record’s coverage provides a fascinating glimpse into the makeup and character of the St. Louis Jewish community during that period. Much of the information provided here is culled from three issues of The Jewish Record that appeared in the weeks before, during and after the Rebbe’s visit. To convey as much of the style and flavor of the Record’s reporting as possible, much of the information is presented directly as it appeared in The Jewish Record, in a free translation.
Additional information was gleaned from Toldot Chabad B’Artzot Habrit, by Rabbi Sholom D. Levine, Chief Librarian of the Central Chabad Library in New York; from Igrot Kodesh, a collection of letters by the Rebbes of Chabad; from an unofficial transcript of a section of the Previous Rebbe’s personal notes; from a letter to his wife, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, of blessed memory; and from other newspapers and periodicals.
Over the years, I have had the good fortune to interview several individuals who provided first- and second-hand information regarding the Rebbe’s visit to St. Louis. They were the late Mrs. Berenice Lyons, who proudly recalled that her mother, Mrs. Ruth Raskas, prepared meals for the Rebbe while he was in St. Louis; Mrs. Faye Zeffren, whose narrative appears below; as well as, to a lesser extent, the late brothers Ben and Frank Hoffman. More recently, Mr. Meyer Kahan related to me that as a youngster he sang in the choir that greeted the Rebbe, “a tall man with a red beard.” Special thanks goes to Lester Goldman, Don Makovsky, Rabbi Hershey Novack and the family of Nathan Harris for providing additional historical material and background.
Finally, a disclaimer is in order. I make no pretense at being a historian, nor have I learned the skills of journalistic research and writing. I am an aspiring chassid who has always been in awe of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe—whose name I am honored to bear—and the astounding mesirat nefesh (self-sacrifice) and ahavat Yisrael (love of fellow Jews) that he personified. I have also been privileged, by appointment of his successor, the revered and beloved Rebbe of our generation, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, may his merit be for a blessing, to serve as the Rebbe’s shliach in St. Louis. These were the motivations that lead me to collect information about this visit. The compilation presented here is not exhaustive or written without bias, nor is it likely to be free of error. I apologize in advance for any omissions or inaccuracies that might be discovered.
The Rebbe Agrees to Visit America
In April of 1929 the Rebbe agreed to repeated requests from his followers and supporters in America that he visit their country. Rabbi Moshe B. Rivkin (1893-1977), father of St. Louis’ Chief Rabbi Sholom Rivkin (1926-2011), was one of the leading Chabad figures in New York at the time. In a letter addressed to him, dated 27 Nissan 5689 (1929), the Rebbe wrote:
With the help of G‑d, I made known my agreement to fulfill the requests of Anash [the chassidic community] in America to come to their country for a period of time.
Surely they understand that this journey [entails] a great deal of difficulty. However, it is my singular hope that G‑d will assist me to fulfill His exalted will... and to achieve His desired objective, to which end all of those difficulties are really of no significance at all.1
The Rebbe had several reasons for his visit. Surely, one objective was to rouse the American-Jewish community to come to the material and spiritual aid of their brethren in Soviet Russia. The Rebbe himself, however, indicated that this was but “a very small part” of the trip’s objective. A more important goal was to inspire a renewed commitment and dedication to Jewish life and practice among American Jews, and to invigorate them to resist the allure of acculturation and assimilation into the melting pot of American society. As the Rebbe stated to a writer for The Jewish Record:
The main purpose [of my journey to America] was to familiarize myself with the conditions here, and with the help of the Gedolei Yisrael [leaders of the Jewish people] in this country to elevate the state of Yiddishkeit [Judaism] and Torah among American Jews.
Additionally, the Rebbe’s visit would create an opportunity for him to connect with and strengthen the fledgling Chabad communities that had sprouted in a number of American cities.
Would The Rebbe Settle In America?
It also seems that the Rebbe was contemplating the possibility of transplanting the center of the Chabad movement to American soil. This visit was an opportunity for him to test the American waters, as it were, and to perhaps lay the groundwork for his eventual immigration to the United States. American freedom and democracy offered its Jewish immigrants unprecedented religious opportunities, but these opportunities were too often discarded in pursuit of the mighty dollar. Would chassidic life and America make a good match? Could the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of chassidism, and Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad, thrive in the goldene medina (“the golden country”)?
Chassidim in America hoped that the answer to this question would be yes, and during the Rebbe’s 1930 visit they were not shy in making their wishes known to him. An article in The Jewish Record on May 2, 1930, describing the preparations underway for the Rebbe’s visit to St. Louis, relates the following:
A movement has begun among Chabad Chassidim to have the Lubavitcher Rebbe remain in America. A committee was organized under the name of “Agudas Chassidei Chabad,” in which are represented all of the Chabad shuls of Chicago. The committee will develop plans that will enable the fulfillment of this wish, for the Rebbe to stay in America…
The committee, under the leadership of Rabbi [Chaim Tzvi] Rubenstein, presented their wish to the Rebbe. While the Rebbe hasn‘t yet given a positive response, he stated clearly that he cannot even begin to consider their plan, unless it would be understood that his coming [to America] would also mean the establishment of a Yeshivah Tomchei Temimim in whichever community he would choose to reside.
The committee’s wish was, of course, not realized at that time. Following his visit to St. Louis, the Rebbe returned to Riga, Latvia. In 1934 he established his residence and yeshivah in Otwock, a suburb of Warsaw, Poland. The Rebbe’s permanent relocation to New York did not take place until a decade later. In March 1940, after being miraculously rescued from war-torn Poland, the Rebbe returned to American shores, and indeed reestablished the Yeshivah Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch on the very day of his arrival.
It should be noted that, even as late as 1940, the idea of establishing a traditional yeshivah in America was not very popular, and met with considerable skepticism and even resistance. Many considered it to be an outmoded hold-over from the old country that was hopelessly incompatible with the American way of life. Ten years earlier, in 1930, the notion of an American chassidic yeshivah must truly have been unimaginable for most American Jews.
St. Louis Prepares for the Rebbe’s Visit
As word of the Rebbe’s planned visit spread, preparations were hastily set in motion. Jews in St. Louis were aware of the anti-religious campaigns of the Soviet government and the Yevesektzia, the notorious Jewish section of the Communist party, and of the Rebbe’s legendary self-sacrifice and heroic battle to sustain Jewish life in Soviet Russia.
This is how The Jewish Record described the Rebbe:
The Lubavitcher Rebbe is the ambassador of the two million Jews of Soviet Russia. Their suffering is his suffering. Their self-sacrifice is his, and their angst is his…
The Rebbe is the personification, the symbol, of mesirat nefesh [self-sacrifice] in our time, [of] “G‑d‘s war with Amalek from generation to generation.” … His heroic battle in defense of Judaism in Soviet Russia evoked a storm throughout the entire world. With total disregard for the dangers to his own life and safety, the Rebbe would not relent in the battles he waged with those who would obliterate the Jewish faith.
The editorial in The Jewish Record on May 2, 1930, reads as follows:
[Leaders] such as the Lubavitcher Rebbe are the very spine and back-bone of the Jewish people. No person can have such great courage and such stubborn fortitude to wage battle with those who would destroy and devastate Judaism, if in his veins does not flow the blood of [the Jewish martyrs] Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe is the ambassador of the two million Jews of Soviet Russia. Their suffering is his suffering. Their self-sacrifice is his, and their angst is his … (The Jewish Record, May 2, 1930)The Yevesektzia ... knew and sensed that [the Rebbe] was stronger and mightier than them. “You … will disappear and your names will be erased. You will be remembered in Jewish history with the same revulsion… as Haman and Antiochus, but the Jewish people will always remain a living nation,” his mighty voice thundered even as his very life hung in the balance.
Whether or not you are a chassid, when you behold such an extraordinary personality, you must humbly prostrate yourself...
The visit of such a great Jewish personality to their city was to be a truly momentous event for St. Louis’ Jews. Their children would have the opportunity to see and hear this great Jewish leader. They would welcome the Rebbe to their synagogues and Talmud Torahs (Jewish schools). They would make the Rebbe proud that they had upheld Yiddishkeit even in far-off America. The Rebbe’s visit was to be a true simchah, a cause for celebration, and the entire St. Louis Jewish community mobilized and united in great anticipation.
Two committees were quickly formed to plan and organize the community’s welcome for the Rebbe, as well as the public events that would be held during his stay in St. Louis. They were called the “Arrangements Committee” and the “Reception Committee.” The committees consisted of over 100 people, and included representatives of the local synagogues, members of the Vaad Hoeir [Community Council] and other notable community leaders. St. Louis’ Mayor, Victor Miller, was recruited to serve as the committee’s honorary chairman.
With total disregard for the dangers to his own life and safety, the Rebbe would not relent in the battles he waged with those who would obliterate the Jewish faith. (The Jewish Record, May 2, 1930)The Arrangements Committee issued a proclamation, which stated:
Jewish Brethren! Our city has merited the privilege to be honored with the visit by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who is recognized as a great religious leader and fighter. His war with the Yevesektzia in Soviet Russia was a war for Torah and tradition. The sword hung over his head. The angels of terror threatened to take his life, but nothing could intimidate him ... While sitting on the defendant’s bench he spoke mighty words, words of fiery reprimand, to those Jewish traitors.
The Rebbe’s liberation was greeted with rejoicing throughout the entire world. His name is eternalized in the long line of Jewish martyrs and righteous leaders of all generations who have waged similar battles [on behalf] of Torah and Judaism. The visit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe is a great Yom Tov [holiday] for Jews of all persuasions. Let us greet him with joy and with honor!
From the outset, the committee planned for the Rebbe’s reception to be unlike any other in the history of the community. Men, women and children were urged to be present en masse to greet the Rebbe at Union Station when his train was to arrive from Detroit.
The lead story of the May 2, 1930, issue of The Jewish Record carried a six-column headline:
“Lubavitcher Rebbe to Arrive in St. Louis Sunday May 4th at 1:30. Huge Crowd is Expected.”
The article proceeded to lay out the Reception Committee’s plans for the big day. The children were to hold center stage.
Several hundred children from the United Talmud Torahs ... together with their teachers will be transported via special buses to Union Station, where they will sing Jewish folk songs.
It will be the first time in the history of St. Louis that Jewish songs would be heard at the depot, which will surely introduce a festive atmosphere on this great Yom Tov.
Chief of Police [Joseph] Gerk has informed the committee that he will dispatch a special reserve of policemen and motorcycles to maintain order, both at the station as well as at the other assembly points where the guest [is scheduled to] appear.
A large automobile parade will follow under the leadership of a special committee ... Those who own automobiles are urgently requested to join the parade. It would be beautiful and most fitting to decorate the automobiles with Jewish and American flags.
The parade of automobiles would depart from Chessed Shel Emeth, the synagogue located at the intersection of Page Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, at 12:30 pm, and then proceed to Union Station. From Union Station the parade would follow behind the Rebbe’s entourage as it made its way to the new home of the Jewish Day Nursery, located at 4568 Page Avenue, where the Rebbe would be hosted throughout his visit.
On the evening of the Rebbe’s first day in St. Louis, a Grand Reception for the Rebbe would be held at B'nai Amoona, located at Academy and Vernon Avenues, at 8:00 o’clock. Anticipating an overflow crowd, the article cautions:
The shul will be opened precisely at 7:30. The doors will absolutely be closed as soon as the shul will become filled to capacity.
News reports about the Rebbe’s visit to St. Louis also appeared in New York’s Yiddish daily, The Forward (May 4, 1930); The Modern View, a St. Louis Reform publication (May 2, 1930); St. Louis Globe-Democrat (May 5, 1930); and in the St. Louis Star (May 5, 1930).
The Rebbe Arrives: A Yom Tov in St. Louis
The reception accorded the Previous Rebbe at Union Station seems to have exceeded even the organizers’ expectations. The six-column lead headline of The Jewish Record on May 9th, 1930, read as follows:
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe Receives the Largest and Warmest Welcome”
The article describes the welcome at Union Station as
the largest and most impressive in the history of St. Louis Jewry.
Such a large crowd consisting of thousands of men, women and children has never before been witnessed at any reception ever accorded to a Jewish leader visiting our city.
The entire Union Station, from one end to the other, was overfilled with thousands of Jews of all classes, affiliations and persuasions. United as one person they all came to accord honor to the great religious leader and warrior who eternalized his name in the history of Jewish martyrs … and for the extraordinary courage and boundless heroism that he has demonstrated.
This great welcome reception revealed once again the great love of the Jewish people to Torah and to Gedolei Torah [Torah leaders]. The Jewish masses have a healthy intuition that enables them to discern one who is indeed a genuine leader and is truly deserving of honor and recognition.
The appearance of the Rebbe with his noble and refined visage ... made a tremendous impression upon the crowd of thousands. The shouts of “Shalom moreinu v’rabeinu! [Welcome, our master and teacher!]” reverberated throughout Union Station.
…shouts of “Shalom moreinu v’rabeinu! [Welcome, our master and teacher!]” reverberated throughout Union Station. (The Jewish Record, May 9, 1930)Upon descending from the train, the Rebbe was greeted by Mr. [Leon] Gelman, editor of the Jewish Record and Mr. Nathan Harris, Chairman of the Arrangements Committee. They then introduced the other members of the Reception Committee. A tremendous crush took place as the throng was leaving the gates. The police were completely unable to restrain the huge crowd that wanted to catch a glimpse of the great guest.
![Hebrew School children and their teachers greet the rebbe. The handwritten inscription on the back of the photo reads: “This picture was taken on Sunday May [...] near the Shaare Zedek when the Libavitzer Rabbi came to St. Louis. We all paraded him [from] the station. R. Klayman”. (Courtesy Dr. Hilton Price)](https://w2.chabad.org/media/images/1016/lFzG10165413.jpg?_i=_n32DD4A5CE5B405756B86D11830CBE5B1 "Hebrew School children and their teachers greet the rebbe. The handwritten inscription on the back of the photo reads: “This picture was taken on Sunday May [...] near the Shaare Zedek when the Libavitzer Rabbi came to St. Louis. We all paraded him [from] the station. R. Klayman”. (Courtesy Dr. Hilton Price)")
Hebrew School children and their teachers greet the rebbe. The handwritten inscription on the back of the photo reads: “This picture was taken on Sunday May [...] near the Shaare Zedek when the Libavitzer Rabbi came to St. Louis. We all paraded him [from] the station. R. Klayman”. (Courtesy Dr. Hilton Price)A wonderful impression was made by the hundreds of children from the local Talmud Torahs [Hebrew schools] who welcomed the Rebbe from the station balconies with shouts of greeting. The Rebbe stopped, extended his arms, and with a pleased smile said to them: “May life be upon you, precious Jewish children.”
With much effort, the Rebbe was finally led to his automobile, which was escorted by police motorcycles to the Jewish Day Nursery, where the Rebbe is staying.
In his personal diary the Rebbe noted that he received “a beautiful welcome at the train depot.”
The Grand Reception for the Rebbe took place that evening at Congregation B'nai Amoona. By all accounts the assembled crowd numbered in the thousands, with many more people remaining outside, unable to get into the building.
A story appeared in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat the following day under the headline, “Many Jews Welcome Rabbi Schneersohn on Visit to St. Louis.” The article goes on to relate that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak “was arrested several years ago and sentenced to death for his religious activities in Russia,” and describes the international outcry that the case provoked: “[U.S.] Senator [William] Borah joined in the protest which led to the commutation of his sentence to a life of exile in Siberia. He was released shortly afterward.” Reporting on the reception at B'nai Amoona the story relates that “approximately 2,500 heard him speak last night.”
The Jewish Record estimated the crowd at 3,000. In his personal diary, the Previous Rebbe’s estimate was a bit lower: “9-11 [o’clock] at Cong. B'nai Amoona. Assembled are about 2,000 people. I speak for 15 minutes.”
The reception at B'nai Amoona was set to begin promptly at 8 o’clock. The Rebbe’s 9-11 o’clock reference may be to Eastern time, as he had just arrived from the Eastern time zone. Possibly, the Rebbe’s attendance estimate was limited to the crowd inside the synagogue building, which he addressed.
The Jewish Record of May 5, 1930, headlined their description of the event, “Hundreds of people remain outside unable to enter B'nai Amoona.” It then offers the following account:
The shul was overfilled and packed tightly with people. Many people were forced to return home because there was no room ... Chazan [Jacob] Gowseiow and his choir sang “Boruch Habah.” Mr. Nathan Harris, chairman of the Arrangements Committee introduced Mr. I. Mathes as chairman of the evening. Greetings were offered by [community leaders]. Mr. Mendel Fischer appealed for the Torah institutions of the Lubavitcher Rebbe...
Harav [Shmuel Eliyahu] Elkin from Chicago spoke of the Lubavitch dynasty and introduced the exalted guest, in whose honor the entire assemblage rose.
The Rebbe, who speaks calmly and unhurriedly, declared that the ... objective of his mission to America is ... to convey regards from the “old home” and ... to familiarize himself with the life of Jews in America.”
In the Rebbe’s Own Words
In a letter to his wife, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, which the Rebbe penned later that night (his second one of that day), he described the reception:
I am introduced … As I rise, the entire hall with 2,000 people rises, [which] makes an enormous impression. I approach the assembled and greet them unhurriedly. and motion for them to be seated … It becomes extremely quiet, so that one almost cannot tell that there is anyone present in the shul...
The Rebbe goes on to share some of his remarks that evening. Some excerpts:
The first words that a Jew says every day when he becomes newly born and wakes up with fresh hopes, are “Modeh ani lifanecha melech chai v’kayam [I give thanks to You living and eternal King].” And so it is at every opportunity. Our first word is “Boruch Atah Hashem [Blessed are You L‑rd].”
…in our self-sacrifice, in our faith in the preciousness of our Torah, and in our Jewish steadfastness, we are all the same. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, at the “Grand Reception,” May 4, 1930)My first word is to offer praise and thanks to the Holy One may He be blessed, for the great joy of seeing the warm Jewish hearts … in all the places, wherever I have been. I see how Jews are longing to receive regards from the suffering House of Israel and Children of Israel.
My traveling to America has a double, two-fold objective. Firstly, I felt it my duty, not as a representative, not as an emissary, but as a Jew, as one of the hundreds and thousands of Jews … who have toiled and continue to toil, with all their body and soul, for the continued existence of our holy people, for our Torah and for our religion, in regards to which all of us Jews are identical.
Among us there isn’t a greater [Jew] or a lesser [Jew]. We [may] have those who are greater or lesser in the knowledge of Torah, or in the fulfillment of mitzvahs. There are the more observant and not-so observant. But in our self-sacrifice, in our faith in the preciousness of our Torah, and in our Jewish steadfastness, we are all the same. There is not [any] greater and lesser.
As one of those Jews whose fate brought me to work and to be active, as is somewhat known, I felt it my duty to come to America to relate the situation as it is, and to hear the response from the Jews of America. How do they respond to [their fellow] Jewish people who are being oppressed … ?
“…You will provide spiritual support to your brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, who continuously [must] wage battle so that their children will remain Jews.” (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, at the “Grand Reception,” May 4, 1930)I will not describe the situation [in Soviet Russia] ... because it is difficult to convey in words … Whatever you read is merely a small portion, a fraction, of how it is in real life. I want to bring to you regards from our precious Jews [in Russia], and to relate to you of their great self-sacrifice, how proud and steadfast they [stand]. Upon them it was said: “Israel, in you I take pride,”2 and we can indeed be proud of them. What is expected from you [however], is that you provide them with support.
You desire to hear regards from them, but at this moment you must remember that they want to hear regards from you. [They want to hear] a response not only of your inspiration, not only [your] empathetic sigh, but also a response with warm hearts and with abundant [material] assistance.
As mentioned, my coming to America is not only for this reason alone. I am also interested to learn about the Jewish situation in America, and its sizeable… Jewish community. To observe how you live here, and how you conduct yourselves. How is your spiritual life? What is your situation [in regards to Jewish] education? Do you remember the “Alte Heim” [“Old Home”]? Do you establish your lives on firm Jewish foundations?
We Jews are a singular people. We do not have among us distinctions of [different] countries. There are three that are singular, and the three are all united into one. There is one G‑d, one Torah, and one [Jewish] nation. And all of these are unified together in a singular bond. G‑d, Torah and the Jewish people, all together as one.
The prophet tells us to “look to the rock from which you were hewn,”3 which means that you must be aware from whence you sprouted, [to] remember your roots. Remember the “Alte Heim.” Its ... healthy and warm, deeply Jewish, clear and sparkling beauty. A tree whose roots are whole, will surely have branches that bear fruit.
It is with such warmth, and with the old-time, deep rooted and beautiful feelings of brotherliness, that you need to reply to those that look to you for your response.
Your answer needs to be with actual monetary assistance, with concern and with brotherly feeling. [This] after you also help yourselves, to strengthen your own [Judaism] ... to conduct yourselves as you were brought up in the Old Home, and to build your [spiritually] sound homes on that basis. Then you will be able to behold a blessed family life with healthy children. Through this you will strengthen the banner of Judaism, and you will provide spiritual support to your brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, who continuously [must] wage battle so that their children will remain Jews. Build your lives upon the old, heimishe warmth. Go more often to the shuls. Observe Yiddishkeit and strengthen the undefeated, steadfast Jewish pride.
Remember that "you are children to the L‑rd your G‑d." You are G‑d's children, and may G‑d bless you with offspring, long life and abundant livelihood.
It is noteworthy that the Previous Rebbe purposefully refrains from detailing the religious persecutions, the material deprivations and the overall oppression that the Jews of Soviet Russia were enduring at the time. There is no harsh rhetoric condemning the communist “paradise” or its leaders; no mention of the arrests, exiles to Siberian labor camps or executions. The most we hear is that “whatever you read is merely a small portion, a fraction, of how it is in real life.” The same occurs when the Rebbe is interviewed by a reporter from The Jewish Record. Moreover, virtually nothing is said about the heroic, clandestine efforts to keep Judaism alive in Soviet Russia by the Rebbe and his chassidim, many of whom suffered imprisonment and even execution at the hands of the Soviets.
The time is not yet ripe to disclose publicly all that which the Lubavitcher Rebbe has done—and continues to do until this day—on behalf of the Jews of Soviet Russia. (The Jewish Record, May 9, 1930)This cautious public approach was consistent with the sensitivities of both the Sixth and Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbes in all matters pertaining to Soviet Jewry, leading up to the time of the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. It came largely out of concern that the Soviet authorities might retaliate against the Jewish population, and more specifically, against the Rebbe’s chassidim and associates who remained behind in the Soviet Union. These were life-and-death concerns, and extreme restraint was exercised with any public pronouncements. A similar sentiment is echoed in The Jewish Record’s editorial on May 9, 1930:
The time is not yet ripe to disclose publicly all that which the Lubavitcher Rebbe has done—and continues to do until this day—on behalf of the Jews of Soviet Russia. One day, when the facts will become known, it will surely be to everyone’s great awe and amazement.
In the letter to his wife, the Rebbe makes mention of the impressive size of the crowds that came out to hear him that evening, and describes the boisterous applause as “an alarm and a storm” that erupted when he concluded his brief remarks. Even after being ushered into a side room, “there [in the synagogue] they continued to clap and applaud, [which] must have gone on for five minutes.”
He relates how the rabbis and community leaders expressed their surprise at the unprecedented crowds and the remarkable attentiveness with which they listened to the Rebbe. All this “exceeded all of their expectations,” they told him, and was “something which almost never before occurred.”
Community leaders shared with the Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak how “one thousand seats were reserved within the first day” of the announcement of the Rebbe’s upcoming visit to the synagogue. This visit was unlike previous visits by important guests from overseas, including one by the famed Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (Chief Rabbi of Palestine) and one by the Zionist leader Dr. Chaim Weizman (who later to become Israel’s first president), in which the large synagogue was only partly filled when they spoke.
The police kept order on the street, as the large doors and the windows were open. Thanks to [my] clear and deliberate voice the large crowd on the street was also able to hear.
Before concluding his letter, the Rebbe offered the following observation:
The atmosphere is very warm, and the respect is great. But know that America is quick to get warmed up, and then very quickly gets cold. One must hurry to quickly seize the moment and to utilize it to the fullest.
Thank G‑d that He grants me [success]. May Hashem help for the future as well, for better and better, and that this should be fully utilized for the benefit of the community and the individual.
Jewish Life In St. Louis
The journalistic style of The Jewish Record is more like that of a community bulletin than a newspaper, with hardly an attempt at impartiality. The story comfortably weaves fact and opinion. While perhaps not free of embellishment, the reports still provide a sense of the image the community wished to project of itself and of the enormous respect they paid the Previous Rebbe. One detects several underlying themes in the reports of the visit. Firstly, the Rebbe’s visit served as an opportunity for the more observant, traditional segment of the community to assert itself in the midst of a less-than-traditional Jewish establishment. Secondly, one senses a nostalgic longing for a more fully observant lifestyle, which many of these Jews left behind in their “old home” in Europe. One hears a reminiscing, of sorts, for a time when there was a more “genuine” chassidic way of life.
One example of this nostalgia can be found in the Record’s announcement of the melaveh malka [post-Shabbat meal] that was to take place at the Sh’erith Sefard shul, with the Rebbe in attendance.
The Rebbe will say Torah and there will be no shortage of chassidic nigunim [melodies] and a rikud’l [dance] just like in the good old chassidic years.
Apparently, there was a significant number of Jews in St. Louis at the time who had an appreciation for the “good old chassidic years,” and whose souls thirsted for an opportunity to re-experience a taste of that chassidic life in the midst of a spiritually deprived America. For these Jews the Rebbe’s visit was an inspirational breath of fresh air, an uplifting and rejuvenating return to their spiritual roots, and a rekindling of their chassidic spark and heritage.
The Rebbe will say Torah and there will be no shortage of chassidic nigunim [melodies] and a rikud’l [dance] just like in the good, old chassidic years.Additionally, it was an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and vibrancy of traditional Yiddishkeit in St. Louis. Again, from The Jewish Record:
The huge welcome... and the honor which was accorded to the Lubavitcher Rebbe last Sunday, are clear indications that the Jewish heart and the Jewish mind still beats with a warm love toward the standard-bearers of the traditional Judaism of old… Once again the love which Jews have for Torah and for Torah leaders was demonstrated. The Jewish masses have a healthy knack for sensing genuine leadership, and they know who is truly deserving of honor and recognition.
Public Events In Honor of the Rebbe
In addition to the welcome at Union Station and the reception at B'nai Amoona, the Rebbe attended and addressed a number of public events, which were organized specifically in his honor.
A public meeting at Chessed Shel Emeth shul, located at Page and Euclid, was held on Wednesday night, May 7th. “Even though the meeting was hardly publicized,” The Jewish Record notes, “the shul was still overfilled with people”.
Posters appeared throughout the community announcing that on Thursday, May 8th, the Rebbe would deliver a formal chassidic maamar (discourse) at Congregation Nusach Ha’Ari. The choice of venue for this occasion is entirely fitting, since Nusach Ha’Ari was the shul with the strongest ties to Chabad, having been founded by Russian immigrants of Chabad lineage, and being the one congregation in St. Louis that specifically followed Chabad custom and liturgy. Years later, in 1948, the members of this shul turned to the Rebbe, who then resided in New York, asking him to choose a spiritual leader for their community. In response the Rebbe dispatched 21-year-old Rabbi Sholom Rivkin to serve as the congregation’s rabbi, which he did until 1959. Rabbi Rivkin returned to St. Louis in 1981 to assume the role of Chief Rabbi, a position he held until his passing in 2011.
From the Rebbe’s personal notes we learn that the maamar recited at Nusach Ha’Ari opened with the verse “Se’u Marom Eineichem [Lift up your eyes on high]”4 and that its delivery lasted one hour. Unfortunately, there is no known extant copy of the text of this maamar, the only one ever delivered by a Rebbe in St. Louis.
As mentioned, a Melava Malka, the traditional meal following the conclusion of Shabbat, was held at Sh’erith Sefard Congregation, located at 15th and Washington Street, on Saturday night, May 10th, complete with chassidic song and dance.
A farewell meeting was held at Shaare Zedek shul, located at Page and West End, on Sunday, May 11th at 2 p.m. This was to afford people in the community a final opportunity to see the Rebbe before his departure. In his personal notes the Rebbe mentions that he served as the Sandek at a brit [circumcision] that morning, though the newborn’s family is not identified.
A “Grand Banquet” was held at the Old Folks Home, on the evening of that day, apparently to raise funds for the Rebbe’s clandestine work in Soviet Russia.
The Jewish Record describes the general atmosphere that pervaded the Jewish community during the Rebbe’s visit:
The Jewish [community of] St. Louis feels itself as if in a Yom Tov spirit this week, because of the visit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Three thousand Jews greeted him at Union Station, and with a long parade of automobiles he was escorted to his residence ... in the new [yet unoccupied] Day Nursery … next to the Shaare Zedek shul. From the first moment, the [building] was besieged with Jews of every class who came to see the Rebbe and to merit a personal audience with him.
In the warm speeches that he gave at Shaare Zedek, and at the banquet at the Old Folks Home, the Rebbe strongly urged ... the careful observance of Shabbat and taharat hamishpachah. He appealed even more strongly for the organizing of the Jewish youth, according to the model of [the] Young Israel [movement].
A Remarkable Intervention to Help Build a New Mikvah
In addition to researching the newspaper clippings, and other textual sources, which recorded the events surrounding the Rebbe’s visit, I was fortunate to personally interview the late Mrs. Faye Zeffren, who retained a fairly clear recollection of the visit. Most noteworthy, she related how the Rebbe assisted in the fundraising efforts that made possible the construction of the first free-standing mikvah building in St. Louis.
As a young, recently married woman, Zeffren was disheartened by the state of the mikvah which served the St. Louis Jewish community at the time. A number of women in the community, including Mrs. Dina Schimmel and herself, began to prod the community leadership to undertake the construction of a new mikvah. The economic times, however, were very hard and the funds for the new mikvah were not easy to come by. When the Rebbe came to St. Louis, the ladies decided to capitalize on the reawakening of Yiddishkeit and the inspiration that the Rebbe’s visit engendered, to finally procure the necessary funds to complete the mikvah. They decided to raise the issue in the presence of the Rebbe at the public meeting that was held at Shaare Zedek shul on May 11th, 1930.
According to Faye Zeffren’s narrative, the women planned to attract the Rebbe’s attention, inform him of the community’s urgent need for a new mikvah, and ask for his help. When the Rebbe entered the shul, which was filled to capacity, Faye Zeffren began banging loudly with the benches—“klappen mit de bank,” in her Yiddish phraseology—in the ladies’ balcony. The Rebbe began looking around as if searching for the source of the commotion, at which point the women shouted from the gallery that there was a dire need for a new mikvah in the community, appealing to the Rebbe to help them. The Rebbe immediately responded that a committee should be formed specifically for this purpose, and that he would be pleased to meet with the group and assist in any way.
A committee was indeed formed, and the Rebbe met with the group, which included Faye Zeffren. To help bolster their fundraising efforts, the Rebbe gave the committee a roll (perhaps more than one) of pennies that were to be distributed to anyone making a significant contribution to the mikvah campaign, as a segulah (amulet) from the Rebbe.
Indeed, in the following week’s issue of The Jewish Record a large advertisement was placed by the “Taharat Hamishpachah Officers” which states (in part) as follows:
In the Honor of the Torah and in Honor of the Tzadik
Poor and rich alike are invited to come see the gift and to hear the message which the holy tzadik, [the] Lubavitcher Rebbe, left for all the Jews of St. Louis.
For the first time in the history of St. Louis Jewry, a new, free-standing bait hatevilah [mikvah] is being built.
The announcement goes on to invite the community to a festive banquet on Sunday, May 18th, in the auditorium of B'nai Amoona, when the plans for the new mikvah would be unveiled. The announcement continues:
Most importantly, the holy and precious gift which the holy Lubavitcher Rebbe, shlita, donated to “Taharat Hamishpachah”... as well as the Rebbe‘s picture.
Every Jewish [person] who possesses the spark of Yiddishkeit, and who holds dear the holy Rebbe‘s honor must not fail to attend …
The announcement is signed by “The Taharat Hamishpachah Officers, Mr. L[ouis] Raskas, President, Mrs. Dina Schimmel, President, Ladies Society.”
I had occasion to see one of those coins, with the accompanying picture of the Rebbe, which was carefully preserved for many years by the family of the late Ben Hoffman. It was a small, pocket-sized photo of the Rebbe wearing his “spodek” [tall fur hat]. Beneath the picture was printed the following Yiddish inscription:
These words the holy Lubavitcher Rebbe said as he handed over this coin, when he was in St. Louis: “I give to you this coin, and hope that in the merit of my holy ancestors, that anyone who will have this coin will be protected from pain, and will be blessed with offspring, life and sustenance.”
Additionally, Mrs. Zeffren related the following remarkable anecdote, which she shared with me on two separate occasions. During the Rebbe’s meeting with the mikvah committee, at which she was present, the Rebbe reminded the committee of the need to inform the mikvah patrons of the halachic necessity to remove all cosmetics—she specifically recalled him mentioning nail polish (perhaps a new phenomenon at the time)—before using the mikvah. This, of course, is in keeping with the halachic requirement that the entire individual be immersed in the mikvah, absent anything that might constitute a “separation” between the immersing individual and the mikvah’s water. The Rebbe added, Mrs. Zeffren related, that the women should be encouraged to re-apply their nail polish and makeup following their immersion in the mikvah, because—as she remembered it—“it was important for a Jewish woman to look good.”
It appears that the Rebbe was quite pleased with the mikvah committee’s efforts in furthering the observance of this important mitzvah. In a letter addressed to a community leader in Chicago, the Rebbe urges that community to follow the example set by St. Louis in establishing an organization with the objective of promoting the awareness and observance of the mitzvah of mikvah.
The situation in regards to taharat hamishpachah is very much neglected, and in order to improve this, with G‑d’s help, and set it upon a firm foundation, it is necessary to establish a women’s organization with the name Taharat Hamishpachah (as has been done in St. Louis).
Even after his departure, the Rebbe made sure to keep himself informed of the Taharat Hamishpacha Committee’s work. In a letter written more than six months after his visit to St. Louis, the Rebbe expressed his satisfaction upon receiving news about what was being accomplished in this regard in St. Louis.
Funds Raised for Russian Jewry
In addition to the local spiritual awakening that the Rebbe’s visit inspired, and in addition to the initiation of the mikvah campaign, the community set the ambitious goal of raising $8,000 during the 8-9 days of the Rebbe’s visit in support of his underground activities in Soviet Russia. According to a local expert I consulted, compared to today’s standard of living, that would be equivalent to over $300,000. This amount was to be raised largely via appeals that would be made on Shabbat in no less than 19 shuls throughout St. Louis. A list of the shuls appeared in The Jewish Record, along with each shul’s “quota.” In addition to the shul appeals, a fundraising banquet was to be held at the Old Folks Home at which “several hundred” persons were expected to attend. The Jewish Record was hardly ambiguous and only mildly diplomatic about the nature of the event:
It is clearly understood that anyone who will be in attendance at the banquet will make every effort, to the extent possible, to assist the honored guest’s mission.
It is not clear from The Jewish Record whether the goal of $8,000 was actually met. However, if Cong. B'nai Amoona is any indication, the “quota” may have actually been surpassed, since B'nai Amoona was assigned a quota of $1,500 and according to The Jewish Record, “Sixteen-hundred dollars in cash and pledges was raised on the spot” on the Rebbe’s first day in St. Louis. Regardless of the precise figures raised, the fundraising aspect of the Rebbe’s visit is described in The Jewish Record as a resounding success. Considering the difficult economic conditions of that time, this may be the best indicator of the profound respect and admiration that the Jewish community of St. Louis had for the Rebbe, and the inspirational affect the Rebbe’s visit had on them.
A Prophetic and Optimistic Vision
During his stay in St. Louis, the Rebbe granted a rare interview to the writer, M. Rimel, portions of which appeared in a special issue of The Jewish Record on May 16, 1930. Rabbi Shmaryahu Gurary, the Rebbe’s son-in-law, who accompanied the Rebbe to St. Louis, pointed out to Mr. Rimel just how unusual it was for the Rebbe to grant such an interview. “The entire time of his travels throughout Europe and America, the Rebbe almost never gave an interview to members of the press,” said Rabbi Gurary. “The Rebbe prefers to carry out his mission in a low-key manner, rather than with loud drum beats,” he said.
During the 45-minute interview, the Rebbe spoke about the future of Russian Jewry in remarkably optimistic language. The prophetic nature of his words can only now be fully appreciated, in light of the robust revival of Jewish life taking place in the former Soviet Union.
MR: I would like to know your opinion regarding the spiritual future of our Jewish brethren in Russia. Has their spirit not been broken, G‑d forbid, by the Yevesektzia’s policies of eradication [of religious life] for the last twelve years? Is there any hope at all for better times?
Chas v’shalom [G‑d forbid]! Not for a single moment can I permit the thought that the House of Israel in Russia would be lost to us. Only those who do not know the stubborn spirit of our Russian brethren could contemplate such thoughts. Yes, yes, not for naught did Moshe Rabbeinu [Moses] bestow upon us the title of “a stiff-necked people.”
“Not for a single moment can I permit the thought that the House of Israel in Russia would be lost to us.” (The Jewish Record, May 16, 1930)If often we are compliant—indeed at times too compliant—in matters that concern our personal [material] interests, we are, however, deeply insistent and bitterly stubborn when it concerns matters that touch upon our connection to our holy faith and the heritage of our forbearers.
Only those who are unfamiliar with the factual situation there, or those who wish to close their eyes to it, can fall into despair regarding Jewish life… in Russia.
The spirit of Jewish obstinance in regard to Torah and mitzvahs in Russia is remarkable, not only among the older generation… but also among a great portion of the youth and even very small children. Mesirat nefesh [self-sacrifice] for Torah study and mitzvah observance is nowadays a common occurrence in Russia, [even] among the generation that is presently growing up … It is true that the number of these “tenacious ones” is still not as large as we would like it to be, but they… provide our best hope… ”
Yiddishkeit in Russia will never go under. Jewish determination is being put to the test one more time, and just as all the previous trials… concluded in victory for our side, so too this current test will only cause us to emerge strengthened and fortified in Torah and mitzvahs.
MR: What did the Rebbe think about the future of Torah and Yiddishkeit … in America?”
This question is bit harder to respond to than the previous one. But here too, I am not as pessimistic as other European Jews who visit America... It is a fact that the American Jewish youth possess a deep religious feeling and a longing for Yiddishkeit. The various religious youth institutions that exist in this country are the best indication of that. What is needed is that the older generation should cease [to project] an attitude of despair about the future of Yiddishkeit in America, and should assume a greater interest in the younger generation. In this regard, the local Jewish press, which is a major factor in Jewish life here, can be of considerable assistance.
“Yiddishkeit in Russia will never go under. Jewish determination is being put to the test one more time.” (The Jewish Record, May 16, 1930)MR: Was the Rebbe pleased with the material results of his visit to America?
In truth this is only a part, a very small part, of the objectives I set for myself with my journey to America. The main purpose was to familiarize myself with the conditions here, and with the help of the Gedolei Yisrael [Torah leaders] in this country, to elevate the state of Yiddishkeit and Torah among American Jews. If, with G‑d’s help, I will succeed in this regard to whatever extent, that would be the greatest [reward] for my journey here.
MR: Is it permissible for the newspaper to publicize excerpts of the Rebbe’s comments?
“Just as all the previous trials … concluded in victory for our side, so too this current test will only cause us to emerge strengthened and fortified in Torah and mitzvahs.” (The Jewish Record, May 16, 1930)This is a bit of a sacrifice for me, because I… do not wish to draw publicity to myself, personally. However, if you believe that publishing my… words that were spoken in St. Louis would help to bring about the addition of even a single pair of tefillin… or will aid in Shabbat observance, taharat hamishpachah, Torah study and religious observance in general… I will be pleased to… forgo on this principle… and permit you to publish the parts of our conversation that [The Jewish Record editor] Mr. Gelman and you consider appropriate.
A Grassroots Victory for Ordinary Jews
By all appearances, the welcome extended to the Rebbe in St. Louis had a unifying effect on the community. However, an editorial that appeared in the May 16, 1930, edition of The Jewish Record, following the Rebbe’s departure, offers a fleeting glimpse at some community disagreements that this historic event accentuated. Evidently, prior to the Rebbe’s visit, some community fundraisers were concerned lest the appeals that were to be made on behalf of the Rebbe’s work for Soviet Jewry would detract from the regular community appeals for local causes. After all, those were the early days of the Great Depression. The editorial takes strong issue with this attitude, is critical of the community establishment for not adequately welcoming the Rebbe, and goes on to attribute the great success of the Rebbe’s visit not to the community leaders, but to the grassroots enthusiasm of the rank-and-file “ordinary” Jews.
The editorial also offers insight into how these Jews viewed their own commitments to their faith, and their personal struggles with Jewish observance. They lament that at times their lives are not in full accord with “Jewish tradition,” while taking solace in their knowledge that their “roots are still healthy.” While their hearts ached at their failure to fully observe Shabbat and other mitzvahs as they ideally would have prefered, nevertheless a passionate commitment to Yiddishkeit burned deeply within them:
The visit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to St. Louis concluded with a great moral and material success. This is thanks to our ordinary Jews whose hearts throb with a strong, burning love to all that is Jewish. The ordinary Jew doesn’t appreciate any [excuses]. Yiddishkeit is precious to him, notwithstanding the fact that he must often do things that are contrary to Jewish tradition. When the Jew silently makes a personal cheshbon hanefesh [spiritual accounting], he does acknowledge his failings.
The love and respect that was shown to the great guest [the Rebbe] was a demonstration on the part of the broad Jewish masses that [Yiddishkeit] is not lost [in America]. The roots are still healthy, even if the branches have broken off.
The success of the Lubavitcher Rebbe‘s visit was also a… protest against our… leaders who have become accustomed to not make a move without the approval of the community [establishment]. We respect… the leaders of the Federation. We know and value the great assistance [they provide] for the community institutions of the city. The traditional Jews, who comprise the great majority in [the] Jewish community, need to be self-sufficient and independent in matters that concern the very existence of Judaism. To be sure, we need to be disciplined in charity matters, when such discipline is called for. However, to seek approval for every… undertaking constitutes the greatest and deepest insult. Such a situation should never be permitted to exist.
No excuses are valid when so great a Jewish personality comes to our city. That the times are difficult, we know. That the local institutions are hurting economically, we know. That there are local matters that require immediate resolution, we understand. All of that is absolutely true. However, such a great guest must [have been appropriately welcomed].
This time it was the ordinary people who took the leadership role into their own hands, and demonstrated that we can get along without [their] help. May they be healthy and strong, our ordinary Jews! Upon them, and them alone, does the future of [Yiddishkeit] in America depend.
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