We are in the middle of the chain of lineage, in lesson thirty-eight, in the eighth part of the history of the Rebbe Rayatz. We have reached the year 5704.
In the chain of lineage it is written: "5704 - founds the Nichoach society" - an acronym, as it appears in parentheses: "Nigunei Chassidei Chabad - for the collection and publication of Chabad nigunim". This took place in the month of Tammuz 5704, on 11 Tammuz to be precise.
The Rebbe Rayatz wrote to the chassid Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov, who was a wonderful singer with a uniquely special musical talent, and appointed him to found the society "Nigunei Chassidei Chabad - Nichoach". These were its aims:
To collect the old Chabad nigunim.
To cleanse them of errors, with the help of the older students of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch.
To have the melodies written out in musical notation by an expert.
To establish a committee of reviewers.
To publish the material in an orderly fashion.
The members of the committee worked intensively, and reached one hundred and seventy-five nigunim, investing much effort in writing out their musical notation. Over the years the Rebbe greatly encouraged this endeavor, and records were released, and afterwards other media as well, under the name "Nichoach Choir" - the choir of Nigunei Chassidei Chabad. And as mentioned, its founder was the Rebbe Rayatz in 5704.
The next item in that same year: "Beginning of the publication of "Kovetz Lubavitch". As was already related earlier, in 5695 a journal named "HaTomim" was published in Poland, appearing with considerable intervals of time between one issue and the next. As a sort of continuation of it, a Chabad journal appeared in Yiddish - as opposed to "HaTomim", which was in Lashon HaKodesh - and its name was "Kovetz Lubavitch". It was published between the years 5704 and 5706, and in those years eleven issues appeared. Afterwards its publication ceased, and it was renewed in 5715, with another four issues appearing, until 5717.
And what was the purpose of the kovetz?
To describe the events taking place in Beis Chayeinu at the Rebbe.
To convey and publicize the Rebbe's timely directives.
To report on what was happening in the Rebbe's institutions.
To bring news of what was going on among the chassidim.
The next item appearing in that same year: "Founds the 'Bikur Cholim' society". In the month of Av 5704 the Rebbe Rayatz proposed opening an institution to be called "Bikur Cholim", and these were its aims: first, to visit the sick among the chassidim and encourage them; and in addition, to take a group of speakers of the local language, English speakers, who would visit the wounded soldiers, encourage them, bring them reading material and gladden them. The Rebbe asked to receive a work plan, a budget and everything necessary, and also that they think of a suitable name for the institution. Over time branches were established in additional cities in the United States. With this we have concluded the year 5704.
Regarding the year "5705" it is written first: "Founds a bureau for aid to refugees and their resettlement, with a department in Paris". After the end of the World War the Rebbe Rayatz established a bureau whose purpose was to help the survivors of the war, those who survived the Holocaust and were in Europe and in all places - to assist them and to send them money and aid. At the head of the bureau stood Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov. In Paris, France there was a central branch of this bureau, and for years its activity continued there; in chassidic circles it was called "the Lishkah", and it had a role for many more years.
The next item in 5705: "Founds the "Adino" society". One of King David's mighty men who appears in Tanach was called "Adino HaEtzni", and the Gemara in tractate Moed Katan says that this name came to describe the uniqueness of the man. In what was this expressed? When he was engaged in Torah - he was "Adino", "softening himself like a worm", and Rashi explains that he would bend himself, his hands and feet to the ground, and sit and learn like a worm; and when he went out to war - he was "HaEtzni", hardening himself like a tree, and he would fell hundreds of men at one time. Such was the character of that man.
In a letter of 15 Teves 5705 the Rebbe Rayatz turns to the outstanding avreichim who are engaged in Torah, who toil in it, and announces his desire to establish the "Adino" society. And what is its purpose? That from time to time there be a gathering of Torah scholars, the avreichim and the yeshivah students, who would speak words of Torah among themselves, farbreng together at seudos mitzvah, and print in booklets the Torah insights under the auspices of the "Adino" administration. As chairman of the "Adino" administration, Rabbi Mordechai Mentlik was chosen, who was afterwards the rosh yeshivah.
An additional matter: "Shalah" and as it appears in parentheses - "(Shiurei Limud HaDaas in the public elementary schools)". Over the years there were changes in this organization's names and in the content of its work, but in general this was its purpose: in the United States, according to the American constitution, it was forbidden until the year 5700 to teach religion in the state schools. In the year 5700 a new law was enacted which changed the situation - not that religious studies were introduced into the schools, but rather that a possibility was given for one hour a week, every Wednesday, so that all the children whose parents wanted them to learn religion could leave school and study in religion classes. There was a period when the Christians made great use of this.
Here the Rebbe Rayatz founded the Shalah society - Shiurei Limudei HaDaas - which would take yeshivah students and organize them to teach religion to the Jewish children in the state elementary schools. Rabbi Yaakov Yehudah Hecht, who stood at the head of the organization for many years, carried out many activities to instill Yiddishkeit among children who were not from religious homes, yet were Jews, and whose parents wanted them to have a taste of Yiddishkeit.
The last item in the year 5705: "Arranges work for the improvement of the spiritual condition of the Jewish farmers and rural settlers in America". In America there were many simple Jews, referred to as "farmers", who were engaged in working the land or in simple labor, but their spiritual condition was very difficult, and people knew nothing of Yiddishkeit. The Rebbe Rayatz founded a work plan for how to reach all those Jews in the distant towns, very simple Jews, to instill in them the fundamentals of Yiddishkeit, and to connect them to Torah and mitzvos in the measure appropriate to them.
This is the account of the years we read about today - 5704 and 5705 - and of the institutions that the Rebbe Rayatz founded during them.