Searching for Hidden Treasures Beneath Lubavitch

In recent years, with efforts to restore the sacred sites in Lubavitch, special attention has turned to the basement of the Rebbeim’s homes, where many precious items belonging to the Rebbeim were buried. Historical accounts offer compelling evidence that they may still be there.

By Anash.org writer

In recent years, major efforts have been underway to restore the sacred sites in Lubavitch. Under the direction of Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan and Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, and with the dedicated involvement of Rabbi Gavriel Gordon, shliach to the mekomos hakedoshim in Russia, the large Zal in the courtyard of the Rebbeim has been beautifully renovated. Following this accomplishment, focus shifted to rebuilding the homes of the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe.

These homes were reconstructed with meticulous care, based on historical records and old photographs, to reflect their original appearance, allowing visitors to walk through the very halls where the Rebbeim taught, learned, and davened.

As part of the restoration, special attention has turned to the basement of the Rebbe Rashab’s house. There is a possibility that precious items, hidden away by chassidim when they left Lubavitch, might still be concealed there. Historical accounts provide compelling evidence.

The first known mention of the basement appears in a letter from the Rebbe Rashab, in which he empowers the Frierdiker Rebbe to sell all the chametz in the home. He writes:

“In the eizpisarki (storage areas) in the kitchen of the large hall, and in the cellar beneath the house where we are living, and in the passage of the cellar through which one walks from the corridor – called ‘the neck of the cellar.’”

In his sefer Zikoron Livnei Yisroel, Reb Yisroel Jacobson writes about the artifacts that they hid in that basement:

“Before our departure – meaning after we had prepared to leave Lubavitch entirely – R. Eliezer Kaplan organized for the belongings left behind to be sorted, divided, and hidden as best as possible.

“Many of these belongings were brought to the home of the Rebbe Rashab z”l. From there, we gathered items from nearly all the rooms of the Rebbe and his son z”l. We collected glassware, bowls, and eating utensils. We dug a deep pit in the basement and concealed these items there.

“The basement also held a significant amount of wine belonging to the Rebbe’s father-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Schneersohn z”l. He would send barrels and bottles of wine. We took a few bottles for a farbrengen at Rashag’s home on the Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, just before we left Lubavitch.”

An article printed in Di Yiddishe Heim adds further details from Reb Yisroel Jacobson’s account:

“In the Rebbe’s large room, we piled all the household belongings. Among them were irreplaceable family photographs, approximately 50 years old. At the time, it was considered improper for a student to touch even the smallest item belonging to the Rebbe’s household. Even closely observing objects connected to the Rebbe’s family was seen as inappropriate.

“We felt an odd mixture of emotions as we sorted and packed these belongings. Among the items was a set of crystal utensils, which we buried deep in the basement of the Rebbe’s home.

“I recall that we debated whether or not to leave some of the more precious items with a few of the townspeople. Ultimately, we decided against it.”

From these firsthand recollections, we learn that the chassidim buried:

– Household items: Glassware, bowls, and eating utensils – probably used by the Rebbeim themselves.

– Family photographs: Irreplaceable photos dating back half a century.

– Wine: Barrels and bottles of wine sent by Rabbi Avraham Schneersohn for Pesach and special occasions.

Sadly, over the years, the Rebbe Rashab’s house and the surrounding chotzer suffered significant destruction.

In a letter of the Rebbe Rashab from Rosh Chodesh Adar II 5679, he writes to inquire about what became of the house and its precious contents:

“I wanted to find out what is happening in Lubavitch, as our yard and houses there have been confiscated, and they say there has been terrible destruction, chas veshalom. They took the crates of books, the cabinet, and the laundry mangle, and many items were broken. We had left valuable utensils there, including fine tableware and other items that are now worth a great fortune, and I heard they have repurposed the stone house in the courtyard as a secular school, seemingly as an act of revenge, Heaven forbid.”

In a letter of the Frierdiker Rebbe from 5684, he describes a devastating fire shortly after the histalkus of his father (in 5681), which caused even further destruction:

“In the month of Nissan, at the conclusion of the first year after the passing of my esteemed and holy father, of blessed memory, between his yahrzeit and the yahrzeit of my esteemed and holy grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, of blessed memory, Hashem sent a fire from above. In half an hour, all the homes we had in Lubavitch were burned down…

“Everything was burned: the beis medrash, along with all the sifrei torah, the marketplace, and many streets. When I visited there in the summer of 5682 (1922), I was shocked by the desolate sight, Heaven forbid.”

In recent months, a dedicated excavation team has been diligently working to clear and explore the basement. One photo from the excavation shows a pillar made of ancient bricks, striped on each side, standing in the center of the basement. It likely divided the space into sections with wooden walls – one side used for mineral water and Pesach wine, and another that stored bottles of chametz like Benedictine.

Though no major artifacts have been discovered yet, the search continues with hope and determination.

The significance of these efforts is underscored by the Rebbe’s words to Rabbi Sholom Dovber Levin, chief librarian of the Rebbe’s library. In his book Avodas HaKodesh, Rabbi Levin recalls what took place before he and several others were sent on a special shlichus to Russia to locate the missing seforim and kesovim of the Rebbeim:

“After the sicha on Shabbos, where the Rebbe spoke about the tremendous importance of doing everything possible to recover the artifacts, seforim and manuscripts of the Rebbeim – and the great z’chus of those traveling to fulfill this mission – I wrote to the Rebbe. I mentioned what Reb Yisroel Jacobson had said about items hidden in the basement and asked whether we should get involved in trying to retrieve them.

“The Rebbe responded: ‘If there is no concern whatsoever that requesting permits will weaken the strength of your requests to visit other places, then it is worthy [to get involved].’”

“Later, before the Rebbe left for the Ohel, we were called to the door of his room, and the Rebbe gave us many brachos, adding: ‘As already discussed, in every place where there is even a doubt that something might be found, treat the doubt leniently, and if it will not harm the other places, go there as well… I am not thanking you, because the greatest thanks will come from the books themselves.”

Special thanks to Rabbi Gavriel Gordon for his assistance in preparing this article.