Building Kfar Chabad with Vision and Initiative

Holy Letters of the Rebbe – Volume 15, Letter 5437
Baruch Hashem, the 8th of Iyar, 5717 (1957).

The Rebbe writes to the committee of Kfar Chabad regarding the development of the village and the need for stronger initiative in both communal and financial matters.

The Rebbe begins by acknowledging receipt of their letter and attached report. However, he expresses surprise that the report was so brief, especially concerning the gathering and the welcoming reception that had taken place. This was not a matter for short summaries, but one that deserved a full and detailed report. The Rebbe adds that he hopes the lack of detail in the writing does not reflect a lack of actual results from those important events.

The Rebbe then turns to the question of establishing and expanding a proper free-loan fund (Gemilas Chesed) for the residents of Kfar Chabad. He writes that he does not understand why they are satisfied with maintaining only a small fund when the needs of the community are far greater. Since many residents required financial assistance for various needs, the Rebbe felt it was essential to create a broader and more effective system of support.

He reminds them that there were already opportunities available. Special banks existed to help small factories, tradesmen, and entrepreneurs through loans. In addition, he had spoken with Zalman Shazar, who indicated that if proper accounting procedures were put in place, government-connected offices might contribute significant sums to expand such a loan fund. The Rebbe stresses that this was only one example, and surely there were many other avenues that could be explored.

More broadly, the Rebbe expresses surprise that these ideas had to be suggested from abroad. In the Land of Israel, many new villages had recently been established, some under far more difficult economic conditions. If poorer communities were able to organize financial systems and support structures, then Kfar Chabad should certainly learn from their experience and apply similar models.

The Rebbe further mentions that he had spoken with Avraham Yehoshua Drezin and learned of additional funding possibilities, including matching programs in which every lira raised locally for a loan fund could be matched by outside support. Such an arrangement could quickly create a substantial source of assistance for residents seeking to establish themselves economically.

At the same time, the Rebbe clarifies that expanding this new fund should not come at the expense of the existing loans already being given for immediate personal needs. Both forms of support were important and should continue.

Regarding agricultural and local development questions, the Rebbe advises them to consult experts in those fields and to study how other villages in similar circumstances had solved their problems. Practical wisdom, careful research, and learning from the success of others were all part of building a thriving community.

The Rebbe concludes with a blessing that Kfar Chabad should be firmly established and successfully developed in every way—materially and spiritually—and that he looks forward to hearing good news.