Where did the Frierdiker Rebbe stay during his 1942 visit to Chicago? “The Drake Hotel” is the popular response. With its strategic location overlooking Lake Michigan, it became the most popular hotel in Chicago and hosted President Herbert Hoover, Queen Elizabeth II, and Winston Churchill. But, it turns out, not the Frierdiker Rebbe.

By Mendel Chaimson

It’s a sensational story.

The Frierdiker Rebbe, at the time leader of world Jewry, narrowly escaped war-torn Europe. His daring escape was largely coordinated by influential Americans hosted by its largest cities. In New York, the famous Kramer brothers, as well as other activists and politicians. In Chicago, activists Shlomo Palmer, Yankel Katz, Moshe Gilman, and others, assisted logistically and financially. Finally, on the ninth of Adar 5700, the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived on American shores.

The Frierdiker Rebbe stayed in the Greystone hotel until a permanent residence would be arranged. Allegedly, the Frierdiker Rebbe and his aides considered the possibility of establishing headquarters in Chicago. But it was not to be. In the summer of that year (5700), the Frierdiker Rebbe moved into his permanent home at 770 Eastern Parkway. 

Meanwhile, in Chicago, locals had been anticipating that the Frierdiker Rebbe visit their city ever since his arrival. 

Finally, the Frierdiker Rebbe consented, and the preparations began for his visit. A date was set, but the visit was later postponed due to “an important matter,” the Frierdiker Rebbe wrote, that his attention was called to. Finally, on the seventh of Shevat 5702 (January 25, 1942), the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived in Chicago for a visit that was intended for ten days. The visit, however, was cut short due to his mother’s passing. 

The talks he delivered were transcribed and recorded, as well as a brief diary in a booklet titled “Kuntres Bikkur Chicago” (“The Chicago Visit”). For locals, the visit was a display of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s connection with the community. More so than the first visit in 1930, when the Frierdiker Rebbe had visited many communities around the United States. This visit, however, was the only time the Frierdiker Rebbe visited a community since he moved to the United States and until his passing (besides his visits to Morristown for health reasons). 

As is the nature of history, there are an assortment of legends concerning this visit. When in reality there is but a limited amount of information about this visit that is factual (save the brief diary printed in the “Kuntres Chicago”). 

There is, however, one question that when posed, earns an immediately confident answer. When in truth it’s only a myth.

Where did the Frierdiker Rebbe stay during his visit in 1942? 

“The Drake Hotel.”

“That’s the Drake hotel where the Frierdiker Rebbe stayed when he came to Chicago.”

For years, it was purported that he stayed in the Drake Hotel.

The Drake Hotel was opened on New Year’s Eve 1920. With its strategic location overlooking Lake Michigan, it quickly gained traction and became the most popular hotel in Chicago. It hosted greats such as President Herbert Hoover, Queen Elizabeth II, and Winston Churchill. 

But not the Frierdiker Rebbe.

The notion that the Frierdiker Rebbe stayed in the Drake was merely a myth. Its origin unknown. In addition to the lack of a substantial source, the claim is a difficult one to maintain.

At the time of the visit majority of the Jewish and certainly the Lubavitch community lived around Douglas Boulevard in the Lawndale district. The Drake Hotel is six miles from the Jewish community of that time. It would have been hard to justify choosing that hotel as opposed to one in the community. As well as an unreasonable walk for those who wanted to spend Shabbos with the Rebbe, who didn’t leave the hotel the entire visit.

In truth, the Frierdiker Rebbe stayed in The Graemere Hotel, which was once located on the corner of Washington and Homan. Right near the Jewish community. This was widely reported in the major newspapers at the time and was verified by those who were present. 

The local Yiddish paper “Yidisher Courier” ran a story about the visit. They reported that a man by the name of William (Zeev Volf) Klibanow (son of Yaakov Klibanow of Anshei Lubavitch fame) gave his apartment in the hotel to the Frierdiker Rebbe.

Those who were privileged to be present were recorded saying that it was the Graemere Hotel. They include R. Yitzchok Kosofsky and R. Ephraim Moscowitz (R. Ephraim did not actually go to the hotel; he did, however, remember the preparations).

Every reliable account of the visit says the same thing: The Frierdiker Rebbe stayed in the Graemere hotel.

There was only one report that the Frierdiker was staying somewhere other than the Graemere. On January 18, a week before the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported: 

“Former Chief Rabbi of Russia Arrives Today. Rabbi Joseph Schnayerson, formerly chief Rabbi in Poland and Russia, will arrive this morning at 11 o’clock on the New York Central. He will be met at the Englewood  station by a delegation headed by Louis A. Wittenberg, president of the Loop Synagogue, and will be escorted to the Midland hotel, where he will stay…”

Apparently, the newspaper had been told that he was coming earlier than he came. They were also told that he was to be staying in the Midland Hotel. That, of course, was not the case.

But no one reported that the Drake was even a consideration.

So how was the story lost? Why did the name “Drake” replace “Graemere” in the conversation?

We might never know. But now the record is set straight.