After years of research, collecting, and sifting through archives, a fascinating publication documents and clarifies the journeys of our Rabbeim, with many remarkable and historic new discoveries.

The research and writing were done by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Mellul, following years of extensive research into the travels of our Rabbeim. The 230-page, full-color comprehensive work was released in honor of the upshernish of his son, Shneur Zalman.

Alongside the fascinating discoveries and newly uncovered details, the volume includes numerous rare documents, historical records, photographs, and other archival material that shed new light on the journeys of the Rabbeim and the places they visited.

Originally, the author had been working on a different research project focusing on the life of Harav Menachem Mendel, the youngest son of the Rebbe Maharash, who lived for some years in France.

“For more than ten years, I had been researching his story,” Rabbi Mellul, a French native, tells Anash.org, “and over the years I have merited, with Hashem’s help, to discover many details that were previously unknown.”

His interest in Harav Menachem Mendel became the starting point for a much broader research project about the Rabbeim themselves.

“While searching for traces of him in France, new details were discovered about the Rebbe’s time in France as well. Over time, many details also accumulated regarding the journeys of the Rabbeim in general.”

It was then that the idea developed to create a full, comprehensive work documenting in detail the journeys of our Rabbeim, together with newly uncovered historical findings and archival discoveries.

One of the most fascinating and historic discoveries is documentation showing that the Rebbe Rashab purchased a large property in Menton, France. To this day, it remains unclear for what purpose the Rebbe Rashab purchased the property. However, the legal documents clearly show that while visiting Menton in 5673 (1913), the Rebbe Rashab purchased a large property that included undeveloped land, lemon trees, grapevines, and several auxiliary buildings.

The property was sold for 6,000 French francs. In the end, the Rebbe Rashab never received the property, perhaps because of the outbreak of World War I. Interestingly, just a few days before the histalkus of the Rebbe Rashab, the seller had begun the process of returning the money.

Another striking discovery is unknown trips taken by the Rebbe and his family during his youth to Wiesbaden and Bad Homburg in Germany.

The research also uncovered numerous new journeys of the Rebbe Maharash, both before and after he became Rebbe. Many new details were discovered about previously known trips, including why he traveled, who accompanied him, where he stayed, and more.

There are many other findings as well, including newly discovered addresses and locations where the Rabbeim stayed throughout their journeys, as well as corrections to inaccuracies that appeared in various sources.

There is a special significance in clarifying the details of their journeys.

“When you know that one of the Rebbeim visited a certain city, and even the street, house, or hotel where they stayed is identified, that location takes on an entirely different significance”, Rabbi Mellul says. “There is a special feeling for every chossid who knows that one of the Rabbeim passed through the place where he lives or visits.”

Besides clarifying the actual travel routes, an effort was also made to trace some of the events and stories that occurred during these journeys. In many cases, efforts were made to establish their dates and locations in order to place them within the broader framework of the journeys of the Rabbeim.

“In general,” Rabbi Mellul explained, “I love combining the information we have from the letters and sichos of our Rabbeim with information I find from other sources, such as old newspapers or, in this case, guest registries, to create a fuller picture of the events that took place.”

During the research, many documents were discovered, including guest registries from resort towns, passenger lists, immigration documents, local newspapers, postcards, advertisements, and other contemporary publications, all of which shed new light on the journeys of our Rabbeim.

“After reviewing the journeys of our Rabbeim throughout the generations, it is striking to notice the difference between the Rebbe and the Rabbeim of previous generations,” Rabbi Mellul shares. “While the Rabbeim frequently traveled from city to city and country to country, whether for communal leadership, medical reasons and rest, or various other reasons, the Rebbe, from the moment he accepted the nesius, almost never left his place.”

“Nevertheless, it was precisely in our generation that Hafatzas HaMaayanos expanded on a scale never seen before, as thousands of the Rebbe’s shluchim have reached every corner of the world, bringing the light of Torah and Chassidus to every place.”

The present publication is only a preview of the larger work in progress. A full book is planned, where the material will be presented in much greater detail, together with sources, documents, photographs, and additional discoveries. Additionally, a comprehensive book on the life of Harav Menachem Mendel, the son of the Rebbe Maharash, is also planned for publication in the future, featuring many new discoveries and details.

“As one goes through the book, one increasingly feels that this was not merely historical research about the journeys of our Rabbeim, but rather a journey following in their footsteps,” Rabbi Mellul says.

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