The Arrival and the New Landscape
Today is Yom Chabad for the 9th day of the second month of Adar (Adar Sheini). In the year 5700 (1940), the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe arrived on the shores of the United States. On that very same day, he founded the Yeshiva of Tomchei Temimim, the central Lubavitch Yeshiva in America.
The Rebbe arrived in March 1940, a moment that fundamentally changed the landscape of the country. He had narrowly escaped the German bombardment of Warsaw, fleeing to Latvia before crossing the Atlantic by boat. Although the ship anchored at 6:00 PM on the 8th of Adar, laws at the time prevented passengers from disembarking after 4:00 PM. Thus, he stepped onto American soil on the 9th of Adar.
Defying the "Melting Pot"
At that time, the United States was known as the Goldene Medina (the Golden Country)—a melting pot where immigrants sought freedom and economic stability. However, this often came at a high spiritual cost. Many felt they had to work on Shabbos to survive, leading to rapid assimilation.
When the Rebbe arrived, well-meaning people—even those who respected him deeply—pleaded with him: "Don't be disappointed, but this isn't Europe. America is different. The things that worked there won't work here." The Rebbe later recorded in his diary how much those words pained him.
Despite these warnings, thousands gathered at the dock on Tuesday, the 9th of Adar, to greet him. They sang Shalom Aleichem and recited the Shehecheyanu blessing. Even Mayor Fiorello La Guardia sent a representative to welcome him.
A First Message of Pain and Purpose
From his initial stay at the Greystone Hotel in Manhattan, the Rebbe’s first words to the community were a mix of gratitude and deep sorrow:
"I thank Hashem for saving us... but it pains me terribly to disrupt this joy. The screaming of my brothers and sisters being tortured in Europe gives me no peace. I cannot find relaxation until Hashem protects them as well."
Rather than succumbing to despair, the Rebbe lived by the principle that a "sigh" is not enough—one must act. On the very day he arrived, he founded the Yeshiva. Within a short time, he established branches in Boston, Springfield, Worcester, and Pittsburgh. He didn't just build buildings; he built a foundation of energy for future generations.
The Chabad Philosophy: Making Leaders
The Rebbe’s brilliance lay in his ability to bridge the generation gap. He didn't put labels on Jews—old or young, religious or secular. He reached out to everyone.
Most importantly, he didn't just seek followers; he created leaders. He took his Chassidim and sent them out to start Chabad Houses, to teach, and to lead drug rehabilitation or benevolent activities. By giving them the responsibility of teaching others, he saved the teachers themselves.
As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of the UK, once noted:
"Most leaders try to recruit followers. When I met the Rebbe, he was the only one who tried to make me into a leader."
The Lesson for Today
The story of the 9th of Adar is a reminder that there is nothing you cannot accomplish if you are dedicated. If a 60-year-old Rebbe arriving from the horrors of war-torn Poland could change the face of Judaism in America, then we, too, can achieve more than we think. We are not limited by our education or our background. With determination and self-sacrifice (Mesirus Nefesh), anyone can achieve greatness and help others do the same.