Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Lubavitcher Rebbe wanted Rav Chaim Kreiswirth to stay in Chicago

A few facts:
Antwerp had since WW2 and the liquidation of its Jewish Community not had a Charedishe Rov. In 1953 they had the opportunity to get Rav Chaim Kreiswirth. He was the Rosh Yeshiva in Skokie. [Also known as Beis Mesrish Lo Torah. By the guys at Telshe, etc. Although Telshe-Chicago hadn't been founded at that time] He agreed, provided that the CI give him his blessing. The CI at first said no, because of the Bittul Torah to Chicago that his departure would cause. Before his passing the CI supposedly told his shvogger that he retracts his first decision and know allows him to go to Antwerp. The Antwerp Kehillah was overjoyed and made preparations for his arrival, but Skokie wasn't going to go down without a fight. They were מרעיש עולמות, including writing to the Rebbe, who said that he was not happy that he was leaving Skokie. So the Antwerpeners wrote a letter, which we present here, as well as the Rebbe's response. We all know the end result. RCK did go to Antwerp. From Antwerpeners I hear of many stories that portray him as someone who did not appreciate Lubavitch. But that's all water under the bridge. The PDF is as it was received. You can rotate each page to make it easier to read.

3 comments:

זנוויל said...

"The Lubavitcher Rebbe wanted Rav Chaim Kreiswirth to stay in Chicago"

? ותהי' לו סוף כמו להרידב"ז

Hirshel Tzig - הירשל ציג said...

למה כמו רידבז? כמו הווייצענער

שיקאגא בוי said...

הווייצענער צדיק היה בנן של קדושים והיה אחוז בכסא הכבוד! משא"כ וכו וכו