I get more joy listening to these Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn lectures on the history of Orthodox Jews in Los Angeles than I get out of watching the baseball playoffs.
In lecture one, the rabbi says: “I found a poster while I was looking through the archives at UCLA… The founder of Chabad is Shneur Zalman of Liady. He had a grandson named Chaim Zvi Schneerson. He was born in 1833 in Russia. He arrives in New York for the first time in 1869. He’s a fundraiser for the Zionist movement in Palestine. He’s a religious Zionist leader. He’s a one-man fundraising machine going from city to city to city. His goal is to improve relations between the US and Palestine and raise money for Israel…
“He goes to Washington. As best we know, he is the first rabbi to meet a standing U.S. president. He meets with President [Ulyssus] Grant… He said, ‘My president. Permit me to give my thanks to the Almighty whose mercy brought me here to behold the face of the Chosen by the millions of this great nation.’
“He’s speaking to him as though he’s standing in front of the czar of Russia.
“‘I come to Your Excellency from the East to entreat you in the name of God who created all men equal to listen to the prayer of your humble servant standing before you to advocate the cause of his oppressed brethren in the Holy Land.’
“He begins to make the case that AIPAC makes — for a strong United States [connection] to Palestine.”
“[The rabbi says to President Grant that] the Christian community [in Palestine] has protection. The Jews have no protection.”
“In 1871, he makes it to Los Angeles. So on our game show when somebody asks you who’s the first Hasidic rebbe to visit Los Angeles? It’s Rav Chaim Zvi Schneerson. He’s got the whole garb.
“They ask him to speak. Two lectures on Israel for $1.50 [admittance].”
“He goes back to Tiberia where he’s put in cherem. Why? It could be because of his secular Zionist friends or because some say he was fundraising in churches. He died alone in South Africa while on a fundraising trip for Israel. A hero of the Jewish people. He gave everything on behalf of the Jewish people.”
I understand why Jews and lovers of Israel would find this man heroic, but I equally understand why many goyim would not look kindly on those of his ilk who use their lands to reap for Israel.
