Azimov, Rabbi Chaim Hillel — director of Cheder Lubavitch in Paris

אזימוב - חיים הלל

Rabbi Chaim Hillel Azimov — director of Cheder Lubavitch in Paris

Rabbi Chaim Hillel Azimov (15 Cheshvan 5673 / 1912 – 29 Iyar 5741 / 1981) was the son of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Azimov, a Tomchei Temimim graduate known among Chabad chassidim in Russia as one of the "ovdim," and was raised by his grandfather, Reb Moshe Nissan Azimov. In 5707 (1947) he escaped the Soviet Union in the great exodus of Chabad chassidim, and in 5708 (1948), at the direction of the Previous Rebbe, he came to Paris, where he began building Jewish educational institutions. He served as secretary of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Brunoy, and for thirty years directed the "Cheder Lubavitch" Talmud Torah in Paris and its branches in the surrounding areas — some twenty Talmud Torahs in all — going from door to door to find students. His son, Rabbi Shmuel Azimov, became the Rebbe's head shliach in Paris.

Correspondence with the Rebbe

The Rebbe's letters to Rabbi Azimov center on his work in Jewish education in Paris. The Rebbe guided and encouraged his educational work in the Talmud Torah (IK 1017), wrote that the task goes beyond teaching — it is to bring Jewish children closer to their Father in Heaven (IK 1794), and urged perseverance in influencing avrechim, trusting in the power of persistent effort (IK 4670). He advised on organizing gatherings and activities for children during school breaks and summer youth activities (IK 2676, 4416), women's gatherings, mitzvos and good character traits (IK 2453), guidance for an avrech on mezuzah and tzitzis and inspiring students (IK 1555), and fundraising travel combined with spreading Yiddishkeit (IK 4180). Other letters explain that blessings are like rain and require cultivation (IK 3256), that connection to the Rebbe is a channel for blessings (IK 3587), and that the emotions of a court case can serve as a lesson for the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (IK 3820); one discusses determining the time of Motzaei Shabbos and consulting the local halachic authority (IK 7728).

See also: Education – Running a school; Education – How to teach; Jewish outreach – Summer camps, youth groups and reaching Jewish children.

Shiurim in this topic

1017. Guidance and Encouragement for Educational Work in the Talmud Torah הדרכה ועידוד לעבודה חינוכית בתלמוד תורה

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1355. Blessings on the Birth of a Daughter, Guidance on Chinuch and Milah ברכות על לידת בת, הדרכה על חינוך ועל מילה

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1555. Guidance for Avrech on Mezuzah, Tzitzis, and Inspiring Students הדרכה לאברך על מזוזה, ציצית, והשראת תלמידים

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1794. Beyond Teaching: Bringing Jewish Children Closer to Their Father in Heaven מעבר להוראה, לקרב את ילדי ישראל לאביהם שבשמים

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2453. Women's Gatherings, Mitzvos, and Good Character Traits התאספות נשים, מצוות, ומדות טובות

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