Three Large Press Photographs – From the Final Days of the Visit of Rebbe Rayatz in the United States, 1930

Three Large Press Photographs – From the Final Days of the Visit of Rebbe Rayatz in the United States, 1930

Three large press photographs, taken during the visit of Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn – Rebbe Rayatz of Lubavitch, in the United States, 1930.
Three black and white press photographs printed in large format, documenting the final days of the visit of Rebbe Rayatz and his eldest son-in-law R. Shemaryahu Gurary (the Rashag) in the United States:
1. Photograph of the Rayatz and his son-in-law R. Gurary standing on the steps of the White House, on the day of the Rayatz's meeting with Herbert Hoover, president of the United States, 14th Tammuz 1930 (see item no. 10).
2-3. Two photographs of the Rayatz and his son-in-law R. Gurary standing on the deck of the SS Bremen, on Wednesday, 20th Tammuz 1930, upon concluding their visit in the United States, before set sailing back to Europe and returning home to Riga, Latvia.
Ink stamp (slightly faded) of the International News Photos Inc. in New York on the verso of the three photographs.

Some two years after his release from the Soviet prison and settling in Riga, Rebbe Rayatz made a trip to the United States. Towards the end of the trip, which lasted for close to a year (Elul 1929-Tammuz 1930), the Rayatz met with Herbert Hoover, president of the United States, in the White House (on 14th Tammuz). During their meeting, the Rayatz thanked the president for the freedom of religion given to American Jewry and for the help his government provides to Jews throughout the world.
The Rayatz came to the United States accompanied with his son-in-law R. Shemaryahu Gurary (the Rashag), his uncle R. Moshe Horenstein (son-in-law of the Maharash) and R. Mordechai Dubin (a Chabad Chassid, prominent communal activist in Europe, member of the Latvian parliament who was instrumental in attaining the Rayatz's release from prison and exit from Russia). The objective of the trip was to raise awareness of the plight of Soviet Jews and to encourage and strengthen American Jewry.
Wherever he went, the Rayatz campaigned to strengthen and fortify Torah observance, and propagandized for Shabbat observance, laying tefillin and establishing Torah classes. He founded Agudas Chassidei Chabad and women's societies to promote Taharat HaMishpacha. On Shabbat, he would hold gatherings and deliver Chassidic teachings, and on weekdays, he would convene various meetings and receive people in private audiences. The Rayatz ended his visit on Thursday, 21st Tammuz 1930. He set sail from the port of New York on SS Bremen and reached Berlin on 27th Tammuz. After spending several weeks in the Marienbad health spa, the Rayatz returned in the middle of Elul 1930 to his home in Riga.

Enclosed: Photograph of the festive banquet held at the Plaza Hotel in New York, on 26th Adar 1945, in honor of the fifth anniversary of the founding of the United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth in the United States and Canada. Due to his ill health, the Rayatz was unable to attend this function, and his son-in-law R. Gurary, who served as president of the executive committee of the United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth, is seen on the head table (see Igrot Kodesh by the Rayatz, vol. XIV, letter 2662). R. Mordechai Mentlick, dean of the Central Lubavitcher Yeshiva is seen at the forefront of the photograph. Ink stamp of the United Lubavitcher Yeshivoth on the verso of the photograph.

3 photographs. Approx. 25 cm. Fair condition. Creases and minor defects. Tears and open tears (slightly affecting the margins of two photographs). Inscriptions on the verso.