As Chassidim around the world marked 85 years since Chof Ches Sivan, a new letter from the Frierdiker Rebbe announcing the good news that the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived safely in New York has been uncovered.

When the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin were saved from Nazi-occupied Europe and arrived safely in New York on Chof Ches Sivan, the Frierdiker Rebbe shared the news with several of his close associates.

In the Frierdiker Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh (Vol. 5, letter no. 1,467), the first such letter is published, where the Frierdiker Rebbe shares the news with Rabbi Meir Dovid Rabinowitz, whose son, Asher, was extensively involved in the rescue efforts. The volume was printed in 5743 (1983), and it was from this letter that Chassidim for the first time became aware of the exact day that the Rebbe arrived, subsequently leading to the day being transformed into an official Yom Tov in Lubavitch in the following years.

A similar letter was also sent to Reb Moshe Leib Rodstein, who served as the secretary of the Frierdiker Rebbe and was extremely instrumental in Chabad activities in the early years in the United States. The letter was printed in Igros Kodesh Vol. 17, letter no. 6,499.

In recent days, Rabbi Berel Levine, chief librarian of the Rebbe’s library, has uncovered a third such letter after digging through the vast archives at the library. This letter was written by the Frierdiker Rebbe to Reb Yaakov Schiff, who was then living in Pittsburgh.

Presented here, for the first time, is the letter, as shared with Anash.org by Rabbi Levine, of good news in which the Frierdiker Rebbe informs Rabbi Schiff that the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived safely after fleeing Nazi Europe:

“With thanks to Hashem, our daughter, Mrs. Chaya Mushka, and our son-in-law, her husband, Harav Hagaon HRM”M shlita, arrived safely last Monday. May Hashem grant them success, physically and spiritually.”

Rabbi Yaakov Schiff was a student of the Nitra Yeshiva, and in 5697 (1937) he began becoming close to Chabad and developing a connection with the Frierdiker Rebbe. At the beginning of Elul, he came with several of his friends to spend some time with the Frierdiker Rebbe at the health resort of Pärchtoldsdorf, as recounted by Rabbi Yisrael Jacobson in his book Zikaron LeBnei Yisrael (p. 105):

“On Sunday, the 12th of Elul, the Rebbe’s room in the sanatorium in Pärchtoldsdorf became a place reminiscent of Lubavitch. Several minyanim of Jews arrived to the Rebbe – rabbis and students from the Nitra Yeshiva – who studied the Rebbe’s maamarim. Among the group in Vienna who were close to Lubavitch were Rabbi Yaakov Schiff, who now lives in Brooklyn, and the Spitz brothers, sons of Rabbi Shmelke Spitz.”

Before the outbreak of World War II, Rabbi Yaakov Schiff was saved and immigrated to the United States, initially settling in Pittsburgh. While there, he wrote to the Frierdiker Rebbe:

“Regarding the shlichus of Rabbi M. A. [Rabbi Mordechai Altien to Pittsburgh]… I suggested before him that, in my opinion, the most urgent matter at present is the establishment of a yeshiva ketana founded al taharas hakodesh.”

Under the directive of the Frierdiker Rebbe, the yeshiva Achei Temimim was then founded by Rabbi Mordechai Altien, together with Rabbi Yaakov Schiff, who assisted him, and it has continued successfully until this very day.