Trenchant Letter by Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson – Wife of the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch – 1951 – Protesting ...

Trenchant Letter by Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson – Wife of the Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch – 1951 – Protesting the Plan to Dispossess her Son-in-Law Rabbi Shemarya Gur-Aryeh of Management Rights of Chabad Yeshivot
Letter of protest regarding the management of Chabad institutes after the death of the Rebbe Rayatz, written by his wife, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson. Brooklyn, NY, Adar Bet, 1851.
Typewritten letter in Yiddish, signed by Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson. Sent to R. Alexander Sender Yudasin of Tel Aviv. Written about two months after the appointment of R. Menachem Mendel as Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbetzin fully consents to "the leadership position bestowed upon my younger son-in-law R. M.M. Schneerson, G-d should grant success to him and to his work…". However, she fights to defend the status of her elder son-in-law as head of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshivot in the US, Europe and Eretz Israel and manager of the Chabad Association.
The Rebbetzin writes: "…At the time my husband was alive in this world, he handed over and divided the tasks between both our sons-in-law. He gave the management of the Lubavitch Tomchei Temimim Yeshivot, in the US, Europe and Eretz Israel, as well as the management of Agudat Chabad, to his elder son-in-law, R. Shemarya Gur-Aryeh. It was his holy wish that his elder son-in-law direct these institutions. To my great consternation, a number of irresponsible people, some even with personal interest… with impertinence want to go against my husband's wish… I can no longer bear the 'bloodshed' which they bring upon me and my elder daughter and son-in-law. I apply to you, as a connected party… that you see to it that our people produce a document with their signatures, that they agree with me that now, after the death of my husband, the management of these institutions and also of Kfar Chabad in Eretz Israel must be handed over to my elder son-in-law R. Shemarya Gur-Aryeh, that he serve as president of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshivot in the US, Europe and Eretz Israel…".
Further in the letter, she writes: "Of course, in no way is this related to the presidency given to my younger son-in-law, R. M.M. Schneerson, G-d should succeed him and his work, and we are only referring to the three aforementioned institutions. Besides the mentioned document, I also request that our people send a protest to the local committee contesting their provocation, and send me both…".
Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Schneerson (1882-1971), wife of the Rebbe Rayatz, was the daughter of R. Avraham Schneerson of Chişinău (Kishinev), son of Rebbe Yisrael Noach of Nizhyn, son of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch. She wed the Rayatz in Elul 1897, and was devoted to and involved in the monumental activities of her husband. After her husband was imprisoned by the communists in 1927, she wisely and courageously steered the procedures which led to his release, at the risk of her own life. After her death, she was eulogized with the following description: "…Her personality contained the traditional pious Chassidic Rebbetzin, hand in hand with an intelligent woman who understands the spirit of changing times…".
The subject of the letter: R. Shemarya Gur-Aryeh (1898-1989), a close disciple of R. Shalom Duber of Lubavitch, who chose him as the fitting match for his granddaughter Chana, daughter of his son the Rayatz, becoming the latter's close assistant and accompanying his father-in-law for 30 years, throughout turbulent times. In 1928, they immigrated together from Russia to Riga, capital of Latvia and continued to Warsaw and Otwock in Poland. In the winter of 1940, he and his family were rescued from occupied Warsaw together with his father-in-law and in Adar 1940 arrived in Brooklyn, all residing together in the famous "770" (Eastern Parkway). From 1939, he headed the Tomchei Temimim-Lubavitch Yeshivot until the end of his life. [With the passing of the leadership from the Rayatz to R. M.M. Schneerson, an attempt was made to dispossess him of this position, however, due to the unrelenting opposition of his mother-in-law, R. Shemaryahu kept his position]. Although he was older than his brother-in-law, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Shemaryahu fully accepted the Rebbe's authority with complete self-effacement and throughout the years was attached to his brother-in-law with his entire heart and soul. During the "farbrengens" (Chassidic gatherings), he would sit next to the rebbe. The two brothers-in-law would eat Festival meals together with Rebbetzin Nechama Dina until her death in 1971. The halachic and Chassidic discussions between the two brothers-in-law during these festive meals are recorded in the two parts of the book HaMelech B'Mesibo. R. S. Gur-Aryeh was an vigorous and active public figure, especially in all matters related to assistance to Russian Jewry living under Communist rule. His activities are well documented in the hundreds of times he was mentioned in letters written by the Rayatz. In one letter, the Rayatz writes to his son-in-law the Rebbe: "Your brother-in-law, my son-in-law R. S. toils greatly". An echo of his activities on behalf of Russian Jews is preserved in a letter by R. Chaim Ozer, who writes to R. S.Y. Hillman Rabbi of London about "The Lubavitcher Rebbe and his son-in-law R. S. Gur-Aryeh…".
Official stationery. 28 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks. Filing holes.