י״ט כסלו ה׳תשפ״ו | December 8, 2025
After Nearly Four Decades, 770’s Likutei Sichos Bookcases Remodeled
As a part a renovation project of 770’s western side, the iconic Likkutei Sichos bookcases, built in 5747 to hold the rapidly growing library of the Rebbe’s Torah, have been replaced with beautiful new shelves.
After almost four decades, the Likkutei Sichos bookcases in the back of 770 Eastern Parkway have been replaced with brand-new ones.
As the Rebbe’s Torah rapidly expanded in the 5740s, more and more volumes of Likkutei Sichos, Sefer HaMaamarim, Sefer HaSichos, and Sichos Kodesh were being printed, and Anash and bochurim became increasingly focused on learning the Rebbe’s Torah in 770. To accommodate this, in 5747 (1987), dedicated bookshelves were built into the wall near the ramp entrance — which was then the main entrance to 770 — to hold a library devoted entirely to the Rebbe’s Torah.
Now, 39 years later, these shelves were replaced with new, elegant bookcases.
The new bookshelves are being generously donated by the Kahn family of Crown Heights, who had also donated the original shelves nearly forty years ago following the tragic passing of their son, HaTamim Michael Yehuda Aryeh Leib HaKohen a”h ben yblch”t R’ DovBer HaKohen. The family has now continued that dedication with a new donation, once again in his memory.
Additional bookshelves were donated by: Kogan family – Abu Dhabi, Marinovsky family – Texas, Raichik family – Los Angeles, Shmueli family – Crown Heights, Hershkowitz family – Ofakim, Rizel family – Lod, and Cohen family – Yerushalayim.
“These bookcases have served tens of thousands throughout the past four decades, but it’s time for new, beautiful ones – fitting for the Rebbe’s Torah and the Rebbe’s shul – Beis Rabbeinu Shebebavel,” said shul administrator Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Kratz.
Today, a team of workers led by Reb Shmuly Shuchat, Reb Meir Moshe Altman, and Reb Menachem Ezagui uninstalled the old bookshelves and installed the new ones. As the old bookcases were removed, many noticed sections of the original 770 floor tiling exposed beneath them, with some suggesting that these may belong to the early shalash structure that stood there over 65 years ago.
Like in the previous one, the new bookcases contain a built-in pushka for the Sefer Torah Hakloli.
The upgrade is part of a project to renovate the entire western section of the shul.
VIDEO
COMMENTS
We appreciate your feedback. If you have any additional information to contribute to this article, it will be added below.