Chabad’s First Vocational School

One of the first projects of the Rebbe in Israel was the establishment of a vocational youth village in Kfar Chabad, which included various schools where students learned a trade * In this week’s installment we discover the beginning of this project, the Rebbe’s conditions, the people who tried to derail the project, and the agreement between the JDC and Chabad to sponsor this project * Part One

One of the first projects of the Rebbe in Israel was the establishment of a vocational youth village in Kfar Chabad, which included various schools where students learned a trade. The schools were named Beit Sefer L’mlacha, and were sponsored partially by the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

Throughout the years Chabad expanded the schools with financial help of the JDC, coordinated by the Rebbe’s personal emissary to Europe and North Africa, Rabbi Binyomin Eliyahu Gorodetzky, who was closely connected to the heads of the JDC and ensured that Chabad receives what they need.

This week we begin a new series of historical documents covering the establishment and operation of these vocational schools. The first installment will focus on the negotiations before the establishment of the schools, and the discussions among the JDC offices regarding this venture.

These fascinating documents are part of the JDC Archives (which were digitized and uploaded online, thanks to a grant from Dr. Georgette Bennett and Dr. Leonard Polonsky CBE).

Fall 1951:
The Rebbe’s Initial Approval

On the 20th of Kislev 5712, the Rebbe wrote a letter to the Hanhala of Tomchei Tmimim Yeshivos in Israel, describing a meeting the Rebbe had with Dr. Leo Jung, which was the beginning of the idea of a Chabad vocational school in Israel (Adapted from Hebrew):

I was visited by the renowned Rabbi Dr. Eli Jung, who notified me that the JDC is planning on supporting vocational schools in Israel which are directed by local Yeshivos and function as a division of these Yeshivos.

He added that he spoke with you about this idea – namely, that the Chabad Yeshiva in Lud should open a division to learn trade – and you answered that you have to ask my opinion.

My response to this question is:

It is impossible for us to change the operations of Yeshivos Tomchei Tmimim in any place around the world from what was decided by the founders of the Yeshiva, the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe. Therefore, it is not possible to include in the Yeshiva any vocational studies.

At the same time, if there are young men (married or unmarried) who cannot learn in a Yeshiva the whole day, for whatever reason, but they are willing to learn a few hours of Nigleh & Chassidus per day if they get a few hours of vocational studies, then it is very important to do so, as long as it will be under your constant supervision.

This is possible by creating a dedicated institution for learning Torah, Nigleh & Chassidus, and also a trade. And surely such an institution will bring great benefit to young men.

As per my conversation with Rabbi Jung, he will try as much as he can to take care of the finances, to ensure that it is covered by the JDC. Since Rabbi Jung has an influence in the JDC, we can hope that the JDC will fulfill this request.

Awaiting a detailed letter about this plan (which trade, plan, budget, etc.) and the earlier the better.

It would be best suited that the institution be located in Kfar Chabad, but under your control.

Winter 5712: The Enthusiasm of Thousands of Jews

On the 30th of Shvat 5712, the Hanhala of the Chabad Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Israel, wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks to Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung for his involvement in the new vocational schools (Translated from Hebrew):

We have received the good tidings concerning your intention to establish schools of Torah and trades among the Haredi community, to which the great leader of Torah, the Rebbe of Lubavitch has given his approval.

We have no words to describe the greatness of this endeavor and we have no letters to describe the tremendous Kiddush Hashem which will take place once your plan is fulfilled, for any person who is pious and G-d fearing is eagerly awaiting for this great project which you will do for the nation of Israel.

Don’t think that this is merely our private opinion, this is not the case, rather this is the opinion of G-d and of thousands of pious and G-d fearing Jews…

JDC: Non-Lubavitchers Are Against

A year later, on June 29th 1953 [Tamuz 16th 5713], an internal letter from Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC Paris) to Mrs. Henrietta Buchman (JDC New York) explains the view of the Hareidi camp in Israel about this vocational school, naming the person who tried sabotaging this project, and also a discussion why the JDC supports the idea as long as it doesn’t include a printing school:

I met with Rabbi Gorodetzki this morning … I think you will be interested In two aspects of this discussion which are important for their implications.

Rabbi Gorodestki informed me that Mr. Sher protested to the Lubavitcher Rebbe In New York about the opening of a vocational education program in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Israel. You know that the Vaad Hayeshivoth has officially rejected such programs and practically sabotaged their development. Rabbi Gorodetzki plans to go ahead and approximately 10,000 pounds are being made available by our office In Israel to equip a carpentry shop in the Yeshiva at Lydda. This will be charged against the $100,000 grant for vocational education for Yeshivoth in Israel.

The second point is that I have made a ruling which you ought to know about, though there may be differences of opinion about such a ruling. I have indicated that JDC will not accept printing as a vocational educational unit in the Yeshivoth for the present time though I may reconsider this position at a later date. My reason is that to train young people in the printing trade requires the full operation of the most modern equipment. In other words, unless training takes place where students can actually engage in the fullest production, the training is bound to be unsuitable for later employment. The Yeshiva asking for a printing press and recognizing this fact, sees in this the opportunity to establish a training program on a commercial basis and deriving therefrom income for the Yeshiva. To run a printing press, it would have to employ full-time, trained workers and the students at best would merely be apprentices in such establishments. It is just as possible for students now to be apprentices to existing printing shops where the same benefits could be derived.

There are two additional reasons for my position: a) full and adequate equipment of this nature is extremely costly and I am not sure that we ought, at this time, to invest such large funds in what is still an experimental program; b) the Yeshivoth are looking for genteel trades and it is a mistake to talk about vocational education in terms of refinement rather than in terms of the real economic needs in the existing society. I do not believe that there is a shortage of printing personnel in Israel and I see no reason for developing printing business on an economic basis for the Yeshivoth.

On July 7th, 1953 [Tammuz 24th, 5713], Mrs. Henrietta Buchman (JDC New York) responded to Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC Paris), discussing (among other details) the protest of Mr. Sher against the Chabad vocational school:

…Mr. Sher’s protest to the Lubavitcher Rebbe here against opening a vocational education program in the Lubavitcher Yeshivah in Israel, comes as somewhat of a surprise to me. I assume it was done in compliance with a directive from Rabbi Sorotskin rather than as an expression of Mr. Sher’s own convictions…

JDC: We Have Always Been Satisfied With This Institution

On July 1st, 1953 [Tammuz 18th, 5713], Mr. Judah Shapiro (JDC Paris) sent a letter to Mr. M. Stephany, from the “Central British Fund for Jewish Relief and Rehabilitation,” describing what the Chabad vocational school is, and how much money they are willing to invest in this project:

Mr. Katzki has asked me to send you some information in reply to your inquiry about the request for funds by the Agudas Chassidei Chabad in Israel. The JDC has established, as a phase of its program of assistance to the Yeshivoth in Israel, a special fund to assist such institutions in organizing special vocational programs. Our organization, however, does not provide any funds for buildings and we have clearly limited our assistance to providing equipment in such schools and participating in the cost of installation.

The Chabad group is presently erecting a building in their settlement at Safaria in which a proper vocational school will be established with JDC funds. The JDC has made a loan of $10,000 towards this building which is being deducted from the regular subvention to this group and it will be repaid in a period of approximately two years.

We have always been satisfied with the program and administration of this institution and we think the project is worthwhile.

The Agreement Between JDC and Chabad

On August 26th, 1953 [Elul 15th, 5713], Mr. Charles Passman (JDC Israel) writes to Dr. Judah Shapiro (JDC Paris) about the agreement he reached with the heads of Chabad in Israel regarding the new vocational school:

This is to inform you that I have come to an agreement with the Lubawicz yeshivah in connection with their project for putting up a carpentry shop for training of yeshiva students.

They have in Lydda an old building which is not suitable for installing machinery there, but can be used temporarily for the first period when the training will be for hand work. They have also started to construct a new building in Safria, near Sarafand. The plan of the building was prepared according to the instructions of our engineers, to be suitable for the purpose.

The school is to be for 25 pupils and the budget is divided into two parts. For the time being, we have to put up work benches and various other equipment, as well as tools, in order to enable them to start the instruction of hand carpentry work. The cost of this will be IL 500 for tools and IL 2250 for the work benches and other equipment. The second part of the budget is for the purchase of carpentry machinery with motors, which will cost about $ 4500 – This machinery we will order as the new building will progress.

I do not assume that this requires special authorization, as there has been a general budget of $100,000 – for such purposes, and in principle we have agreed to entertain any project proposed by yeshivoth for vocational training schools, if it is found practical and not too expensive.

I am, therefore, making arrangements for the carrying out of this project.