6085 - Protecting the Spiritual Independence of Kfar Chabad

Letter Summary: Protecting the "Village of the Rebbe"

In this significant letter to the Vaad of Kfar Chabad, the Rebbe provides foundational guidance on how to maintain the unique character of the village as established by the Previous Rebbe.

1. The Risk of Industrialization and Kashrus Standards Responding to a telegram about a potential factory for canned meat (Shmurei Bassar), the Rebbe advises that such an enterprise should remain in "other people's domain." He explains that a large-scale factory often cannot maintain the highest levels of stringency (chumra yeseira).

Crucially, the Rebbe warns that simply being located in Kfar Chabad would give the product an implicit "Chabad stamp of approval." Even if the Vaad were to issue protests or disclaimers stating they do not oversee the production, the public would still assume it is up to Chabad standards. To avoid this "stumbling block," the Rebbe rules against the project.

2. Spiritual Independence The Rebbe stresses that Kfar Chabad must remain independent. Allowing outside entities to open factories within the village creates a "pipeline" for external influences that could dilute the village's Chassidic atmosphere. The Rebbe’s vision is clear: Kfar Chabad should be a self-contained environment dedicated to the path of Chassidus.

3. The Power of a Cooperative (Artel) The Rebbe encourages the residents to form a cooperative (Artel). Beyond the financial benefits, the Rebbe highlights the spiritual value: it forces people to work together "with a complete heart." This unity is a goal in and of itself.

4. Preparing for Shemittah With the Shemittah (Sabbatical) year approaching, the Rebbe expresses surprise that the Vaad's reports hadn't yet addressed the practical challenges for the village's farmers. As a creative solution for the bread supply during Shemittah, the Rebbe suggests the possibility of baking large quantities of Matzah Shmura, which can be preserved and eaten throughout the year.

5. Alternatives for Livelihood In That letter the Rebbe writes that rather than a  machine-made Tzitzis focusing on sacred industries, such as a Tefillin factory, which better align with the village's mission.