Lipsker, Rabbi Michoel — the first shliach to Morocco

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Rabbi Michoel Lipsker — the first shliach to Morocco

Rabbi Michoel Lipsker (1907 – 5 Iyar 5745 / 1985) was born in Poltava and, after years of chassidic life in the Soviet Union, was living in Paris after the war. Shortly before his passing, the Previous Rebbe expressed the wish that Rabbi Lipsker go to Morocco to strengthen Torah and Jewish education there. On 20 Shevat 5710, ten days after the Previous Rebbe's passing, the Rebbe wrote to him conveying this mission, and he became the first Chabad shliach to Morocco — often described as having been sent by two Rebbeim. He arrived in Meknes in Iyar 5710 (1950) and, with the help of Rabbi Refael Baruch Toledano, the city's chief rabbi, founded a yeshiva there, going on to build educational institutions for boys and girls and to become a spiritual guide to thousands of Moroccan Jews. Many of his students continued to Chabad yeshivos in Europe and Eretz Yisrael. Following the Rebbe's instruction, he taught Torah and Chassidus without trying to change the customs of Moroccan Jewry. In his later years he managed the kitchen of the central Tomchei Temimim yeshiva at 770.

Correspondence with the Rebbe

The Rebbe's letters to Rabbi Lipsker accompany the building of the work in Meknes. The Rebbe gave him strength in his shlichus and in moments of isolation (IK 785), and guided the yeshiva's growth: protecting the integrity of its name and administration, so that it remains in the hands of those educated in the Chabad way (IK 824); naming a girls' school and planning its education (IK 1270, 1556); strengthening the yeshiva and community support (IK 1617); a study schedule for Sephardic students (IK 1547); and school attendance and the library (IK 1556). He asked for regular reports on the number of schools and students, and encouraged the acquisition of Torah books (IK 1130).

Many letters concern the students: Chanukah gifts and the purpose of studying Chassidus (IK 1341); reviewing Chassidus and singing niggunim (IK 2389); students staying for Tishrei (IK 2233); study material for students going home for Pesach and other holidays (IK 2573, 2879); and connecting students who make aliyah to Chabad yeshivos (IK 2945). Other letters discuss strengthening the practical observance of Jewish women (IK 2311), the difficulty of establishing a mikveh in a large city and mikveh water sources (IK 3933, 7920), the Yud-Beis Tammuz celebration (IK 7920), an age policy at Beis Rivkah (IK 6931), and suspending learning in extreme heat (IK 5578).

See also: Matusof, Rabbi Shlomo; Jewish outreach – Spreading Chassidus; Education – Running a school.

Shiurim in this topic

785. Strength in Shlichus, Torah Efforts, and Overcoming Loneliness חוזק בשליחות, מאמצי תורה, והתמודדות עם בדידות

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824. Protecting the Integrity of the Yeshiva Name and Administration שמירת שלמות שם הישיבה והנהלתה

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1130. Delays in Correspondence, Reporting School Numbers, and Book Exchanges עיכובים בהתכתבות, דיווח מספרי מוסדות, וחילופי ספרים

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1270. Naming a Girls' School, Education Plans, and Accessible Chassidus קריאת שם לבית ספר לבנות, תכניות חינוך, ונגישות חסידות

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1341. Hanukkah Gifts for Students and the Purpose of Chassidus Study מתנות חנוכה לתלמידים ומטרת לימוד החסידות

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