The provision of Matza to Jewish Soldiers in the far east (1904-1905) - Part 1

The Russo Japanese War broke out in February 1904 (Shvat 5664), with an attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur. Within weeks Russian forces, both on land and sea where heavily committed in an attempt to reconsolidate their position and retain control over their only warm water port in the Pacific. These forces included thousands of Jewish soldiers (mainly conscripted) from Russia’s large Jewish population. The tensions that led to the outbreak of war had been brewing for some months, and even before the war became a reality, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn (the Lubavitcher Rebbe referred to as the Rebbe Rashab) began to make provisions to provide Kosher Matza for the Jewish soldiers in the far-east.

Although no letters (that I know of) survive from this year (5664), detailing these efforts (many survive detailing similar efforts the following year, see below) we know that shortly after Chanukah the Rashab traveled to Paris. “There he dealt with the issue of sending Matza and other Pesach needs to the Jewish soldiers who are in the far-east due to the war between Russia and Japan” (Chanoch Lenaar, page 14).

His son and successor as Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitchok (known as the Friedike Rebbe), related, “At that time Baron [Horace] Ginzburg [or Günzburg, a Russian Jewish philanthropist and pioneer of the Haskalah (enlightenment) movement, see here] was also in Paris, he had many acquaintances in government circles. At that time we did not have a very good relationship with the Baron, due to my father - the Rebbe’s opposition to enlightenment. Nevertheless, my father - the Rebbe went to see the Baron and spoke to him about the effort to obtain [government] permission to send Matza to the soldiers. The Baron answered, ‘there is always the alternative option of Pesach Sheni…’ [As the soldiers would still be at the front on Pesach Sheni, I presume that this comment was not meant literally, but rather as a subtle way of putting the Rebbe off]. My father - the Rebbe answered him, ‘On the front there are no [sophisticated] Barons, the soldiers are simple Jews, they don’t know of such rationalizations and they must have Matza for Pesech.’” (Sefer Hasichos 5702, page 89.)

Baron Horace Günzburg

The efforts of 5664 convinced the Rebbe Rashab of the need to implement the production and delivery of the Matza in a much more organized fashion, involving the efforts of a much broader range of individuals. On Thursday the 6th day of Chanukah 5665 (8th December 1904) he wrote to Reb Yeshayeh Berlin (a Chossid, philanthropist, confident and strong supporter of the Rabbeim, he was married to a cousin of the Rebbe Rashab) “We need to worry about providing Matza for our brothers in the warzone, while there is still time. Being that there are now many of brothers there – perhaps up to forty thousand – it is impossible to achieve this through the donations of individuals alone, rather we must gather funds from all the [Jewish] settlements so that also small contributions will add up and amount to a fitting sum…”. Accordingly, the Rebbe continues to outline a detailed plan of action, advising that Reb Yeshayeh Berlin himself undertake the running of a central office to receive and record all contributions, and discussing the various methods of raising public awareness and the possible need to acquire government approval.

“I am thinking of writing to all the settlements of the Chassidim and also to individuals to arouse them in this regard, and also to arouse my cousins the Rabbis of Liadi [Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber Schneersohn], Babroisk [Rabbi Shmaryahu Noach Schneersohn], and Retzitze [Rabbi Sholom Dovbear Schneersohn - all of the above where Rebbes themselves] and also the Rabbonim of Brisk [Rabbi Chaim Solivietchik], Kovno [Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Rabinovitz], Vilna [Rabbi Chaim Oizer Grodzinsky] and Lodz [Rabbi Elyeh Chaim Miezel], so that each shall personally arouse the settlements and individuals under their influence… If government permission is required, I intend to request it in the name of all the above mentioned Rabbonim.”

To be continued...