JEM:
Forty years ago, a surprise children’s rally took place in 770. Until now, it was known only through firsthand memories and written accounts.
That all changed when this old tape was found…
As the summer of 1986 came to a close and the children returned home from camp, everyone expected the annual children’s rally at 770. Each year, the Rebbe would come downstairs, join the children, and address them. But this time, because of a misunderstanding between the organizers, Tuesday passed without a rally – and no one knew whether anything would happen the following day.
Then, on Wednesday afternoon, word spread that the Rebbe would come downstairs to daven Minchah with the children. It was made clear that the Rebbe would only come for Mincha, and the Rebbe’s secretaries strongly indicated that there would be no Sicha. Still, a microphone, a platform, and coins were prepared – just in case.
The Rebbe remained in his room, waiting for the campers to arrive. Some sixty boys from Camp Gan Yisroel entered the shul and sat on the front benches, with a smaller group of girls from Camp Emunah gathered in the women’s section.
A few minutes later, the Rebbe entered the shul, encouraging the children’s singing as he walked to his place. After Shmonei Esrei, he informed Rabbi Leibel Groner that he wished to speak to the children. The microphone was hurriedly brought forward, and the Rebbe then motioned for a Chumash. One of the shul’s Chumashim was brought to him, and the Rebbe studied it throughout the remainder of the davening.
The Surprise Childrens Rally
Immediately following the final Kaddish – without the customary recitation of the Twelve Pesukim – the Rebbe began a short Sicha. At its conclusion, he said that the talk should be translated into English for the children. When the translation ended, and Rabbi Avraham Shemtov (who had done the translation) hesitated, unsure what should happen next, the Rebbe motioned that the children should begin singing.
The Rebbe then stepped down from the platform and distributed three coins to every child and counselor: one for that day, one for the following day, and a third “to do with as they see fit.”
What had seemed so unlikely to unfold became one of the most intimate children’s rallies ever held with the Rebbe.
Nearly forty years later, while looking through old boxes, Avraham Berns discovered a tape bearing the date of the rally – 22 Av, 5746 (1986). There it was, faded and grainy, but preserved on film.
It’s not every day that a “new” moment with the Rebbe is uncovered. Nearly forty years later, it’s a privilege to be able to share this one.
Many thanks to Rabbis Mendel Gourarie, Motti Hazan, Memkeh Schmukler, Yossi Wolowik and Mendel Kaplan of the JEM team for going above and beyond to ensure the tapes were published.
